1

SCaN

Fun Pad

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov
2

Space Communications 

and Navigation Program

The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) 

Program provides communications and navigation 

services that are essential to the operation of 

NASA’s space flight missions. 

SCaN manages the ground-based facilities 

and services provided by the Deep Space 

Network (DSN), Near Earth Network (NEN), 

and Space Network (SN).

Entering the Decade of Light

http://www.nasa.gov/scan

What is scan?
3

SCaN Word search 5/16/17, 1:21 PM

https://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-own/word-search/ Page 1 of 2

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker

C I M

P S D U O F A I H

H Q L J L H I E X O N Q C

T D R R A D A R P O S K V P Q H U

W C F P D N L F D N R O J Q H N H C E

D Q I Q L O E V T C Y F X X M L C I O O G

S D J F D N T O N W T T K N Z N Q S M R F

L P P C O P Z R O L I W H O F U N M S M M M G

T U D A X S B O S N A V I G A T I O N U F J R

H H V F M C P M C W D S T D L W E Z Z V N C V I E

Z J Q P I E E T K W O A H Q J L Y H T U I V F T J

S A T E L L I T E C T T R U R C O J U O C Y I V I

S P G E P R O O W T S R V D G S N C R E R A R S V E W

W H Q C E X P L O R A T I O N J H Y H N D T J T T A C

D G T Z A L L V P E A G L T E A N V B X D I E R X Y S

H G D G S F O I W O S P A C E C R A F T O Y O F B

V N E R T T G U W K T T D N T S T L T M N M R V B

G B Z C S W R S J A A I E C X G H J R A V I B D W

A U L V P Q O H F R Z E R W L J H T R T S I C

V N O Z Y C Q N L S F W T O D T S M S I S T C

Z T J Q Y S Z A I C X W E I S A X G Q I C

Z G E Q X L E Z U W K N Q Z D F R C P O A

B G N D B Q N E T W O R K H N Y A O N

P Q N X V C P E A T A D G U G W H

L A Y D U U C P P Y I W C

W X L X W B M K O

N B C

Antenna

TDRS

Satellite

Planet

Network

Space

Orbit

Radar

Communication

Navigation

Earth

Mars 

Exploration

Launch

Spacecraft

Station

Moon

Rocket

Asteroid

Mission

Astronaut

Stars

Circle the hidden words from the list below.
4

Color ME

TDRS Satellite—First Generation

Did You Know?

Started in the early 1970’s the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite 

(TDRS) is part of the Space Network. The Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite system consists of in-orbit satellites to provide near 

continuous information to and from missions the Hubble Space 

Telescope (HST) and the Space Station.
5

What is A Relay satellite? 

Like in a relay race, where runners pass the baton to the next 

runner to run the next leg of the race, the Tracking and Data 

Relay Satellite (TDRS) works similarly with satellite’s information 

to transfer data between the ground and space.

Satellites in orbit cannot pass along their information to the 

ground stations on Earth if the satellite does not have a clear 

view of the ground station. Therefore, TDRS serves as a way 

to pass along the satellite’s information. Nine TDRS sit about 

35,400 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the Earth and are 

able to forward information from a satellite until it reaches 

the appropriate ground station in view, to that TDRS at either 

White Sands, New Mexico or Guam Island. TDRS can also send 

information from the ground to the satellite to tell the satellite 

what to do (take a picture, turn a sensor or off, send stored data 

back or change its orbit). TDRS allows NASA to have global 

coverage of all the satellites–24 hours a day–without having to 

build extra ground stations on Earth.

Operating SCaN Network: Space Network

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

satellite FACTS
6

Navigate TO orbit

Navigate the string routes to find the path that takes TDRS to orbit. 

(The strings cross over and under each other, so crossing 

other string routes is okay to stay on your route!)

Did You Know? • NAVIGATION Mission users in orbit can 

determine their position and time using communications channel tracking 

via the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Deep Space Network 

(DSN), Near Earth Network (NEN), Space Network (SN), or by on-board means 

of processing one-way radionavigation signals from Global Navigation 

Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS). 

The DSN is also capable of supporting tracking from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 

through interplanetary transfer domains. GPS is transforming operations in 

space–from guidance systems for the Space Station’s return vehicle to the 

control of communication satellites to entirely new forms of Earth remote 

sensing to collect and analyse data from faraway places!
7

Instructions

The radio signals are sending a 

message! Figure out what it says 

by going row by row to see what 

letter the radio wave lands on!

MESSAGE:	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_	_

Decode the signal!

A B C D E F G H I J K LM N 0 p Q R s T u V w X y z 

- . • I I I • • • • • • • I I I 

-

•• I • • -• • • •• I 11 J I I I I I I I I 

-· . • I I I • • • • • 

'. '• • -• 

-

- - "" -ii-

-• • • I I 11 I I 1 I I I I I I 

- • I • • • • • • .. ' • l • • • • • • • • I I I 

- . •• • • I • I I I I I I I I 
8

1. Satellite A tells you to go 

up four squares

2. Satellite B tells you to go 

left two squares

3. Satellite C tells you to go 

down three squares

4. Satellite D tells you to go 

right four squares

Label where you are!

Your phone needs to figure out where you are! 

Start at the center star and follow 

the instructions to find out!

Did you know? One GPS satellite isn’t enough to tell you 

where you are. You need at least four GPS signals to figure out 

your position! When people use their phone for GPS, the phone 

has to figure out what the signals are saying. 

Where am I?

r 
9

Match the Satellites

Draw lines to connect all the matching satellites. 

(Tip: There is more than one match.)
10

Color ME

Did You Know?

When satellites reach their orbit, their name changes from a 

letter to a number: TDRS-A → TDRS-1

Add your own colors to the image below!
11

Satellite ODD ONE OUT

Two of the satellites are different from the others. 

Can you find them?

A B C

D E F

0 0 0 

II II II 

0 0 0 
12

Space journey STORY

Instructions:

• Choose a word for each part of speech specified.

• Read the story on the page out loud, filling your words in the blanks.

• Laugh and ask your family and friends to see what words they choose – a new 

story every time.

NASA is starting a mission in which they will be sending a 

select group of ___________ to ___________ in a __________. 

They have asked you to join in this ___________ mission! 

___________ is leading your team on this __________ journey in 

which you will ___________. The Space Communications and 

Navigation (SCaN) Deep Space Network will be managing the 

communication with you, your ___________, and the mission 

control center. The satellites will transmit and receive the 

messages with the ___________ ground station. You and 

your team will live for ___________ years in a ___________ 

and work on ___________ experiments to benefit science and 

___________. The experiment data will be sent to scientists 

at ___________ to evaluate. The food you will be eating is 

___________ and ___________. The team will be wearing 

___________ spacesuits and exploring the 

planet in a ___________. Your scientific 

experiments will help people on Earth 

with their ___________!

plural noun planet

constellation

noun

person adjective

plural noun

noun

place

number

adjective

food beverage

place

color

plural noun

verb

plural noun

vehicle
13

DRAW ME

Use the grids on 

this page to copy 

the satellite and 

network antenna 

picture, then add 

some color to 

your drawing!
14

SCaN Networks

What are the scan networks? 

SCaN provides three networks, offering support to customers for global 

telecommunication services between customer mission platforms and 

operations centers.

Near Earth Network (NEN): provides telemetry, commanding, 

ground-based tracking, data and communications services. The NEN 

provides these services to customers with satellites in low Earth orbit, 

geosynchronous orbit, highly elliptical orbit, lunar orbit and missions with 

multiple frequency bands.

Space Network (SN):

consists of a constellation of 

geosynchronous satellites named 

the Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite and ground systems that 

schedule, command and control 

the relay system of satellites.

Deep Space Network 

(DSN): supports NASA and 

non-NASA missions that 

explore the furthest points of 

our solar system. The DSN has 

three ground stations located 

approximately 120 degrees apart on Earth.

SN

SN

DSN

DSN

DSN

NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN

NEN

NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN NEN
15

The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program provides 

communications and navigation to NASA’s missions. Our main goal is 

providing accurate and reliable space communications 

for our customers. Entering the Decade of Light!

How many words can you make using all the letters in the 

phrase in the box below? Write them below.

Space Communication

space words
16

Galactic Crossword

Read the clues on the facing page and fill in the correct 

answers from the Word Key in the puzzle below. 
17

Galactic Crossword

Solar Star Networks Radar Link Mission Rocket Gravity Satellite 

Planets Radar Apogee Payload Antenna Perigee Lunar Orbit 

NASA Space Communications Latitude Launch Galaxy Receiver 

Tracking Spacecraft Longitude Robot Rover Meteor 

Across:

 2. A space rock that becomes so hot 

it glows when it passes into 

Earth’s atmosphere.

 4. A vehicle for exploring the surface 

of a planet or moon.

 5. A flight to a destination in space.

 9. National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

10. A huge ball of very hot, glowing 

gas that gives off both heat 

and light.

11. A measurement of distance, given 

in degrees north or south from the 

equator.

13. A means of transmitting and 

receiving information.

16. A vehicle used to launch people 

and objects into space.

17. Locking on and following a 

selected signal.

19. A device that sends out radio 

waves and picks them up again 

after the waves strike another 

object and bounce back.

20. Large round objects that revolve 

around a star.

23. The path followed by a moon, 

planet or artificial satellite as it 

travels around another body

in space.

24. A device that captures and 

processes a desired signal.

25. Having to do with the Moon.

26. The region beyond Earth’s 

atmosphere.

27. One of the very large groups of 

stars and other matter that are 

found throughout the universe.

Word Key:

Down:

 1. The force by which a planet or other 

body draws objects toward

its center.

 3. The connection between a sender 

and receiver.

 4. A machine that is built to do a certain 

job again and again, or to do work 

that might be dangerous for humans.

 6. A natural moon or man-made object 

that orbits a planet or other object.

 7. Equipment and samples from a 

mission that must be returned to

Earth for analysis.

 8. Vehicle capable of traveling in 

outer space.

 9. Collection of systems that provide 

communication and navigation

services to missions.

12. A measurement of distance, given 

in degrees east or west of the

prime meridian.

14. A point in the satellite’s orbit where it 

is closest to the Earth–opposite 

of apogee.

15. A point in the Earth satellite’s orbit 

where the satellite is furthest

from Earth–opposite of perigee.

16. Device that transmits a radio signal 

and receives the reflectors from 

selected object to determine the 

characteristics of that object.

18. A metallic structure or conductor 

that captures and/or transmits radio 

electromagnetic waves.

21. To send something on its way, such 

as when a rocket’s engines are ignited 

to send it from Earth into space.

22. Having to do with the sun.
18

Color Me

TDRS M Satellite—Third Generation

Did you know? TDRS-M, now named TDRS-13 after 

reaching geosynchronous orbit, is the latest communications 

satellite to join the TDRS fleet and will support space 

communications for an additional 15 years.
19

Connect the dots

Connect the dots to complete the constellations.

•1 

Phoenix 

• 5 

Pisces 

3 Austrinus • 

4 .s 

1-----.6 

What is a 

Constellation? 

A group of stars that forms 

a particular shape in the sky 

and has been given a name. 

1 10 

Orion • • .9 \ }' 7• 

S• 

•g 

Capricorn us 

3 • 

2 

• 

1 3 • v, 4 I .. 

6 

Sagittarius 

,.i 

•g 

• 11 

3/6 

Scorpius s• 

.1 •7 

•s 

• 13 

e 12 
20

SPACE WORD SCRAMBLE

Rocket Launches

Rockets such as the Atlas V 

rocket are used by the Space 

Communications and Navigation 

Program at NASA to launch 

spacecraft from the Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station 

Space Launch Complex.

Unscramble the letters below to make space words.

Layout & artwork © Copyright 2016 Education.com Build your own custom worksheet at education

Word Scramble

ETASORID

AENLTP

EOCTKR

RATEH

MNOO

RSMA

ILSLATEET

TBROI

LXAYGA

STURTOANA

ROTMEE

ATSR

ERRVO

IIMSNSO

CPAES

®
21

Match the ROCKETS

Draw lines to connect all the matching rockets. 

(There is more than one match.)
22

Space Station FACTS

What is the Space Station? 

The Space Station is a habitable vehicle in a low Earth orbit 

that serves as a microgravity and space environment research 

laboratory. An international collaboration, the Space Station 

began assembly in December 1998 and has been continually 

occupied since November 2000. Since then, more than 200 

people from 15 countries have spent time aboard. The Space 

Station is approximately the size of a football field and is the 

second brightest object in the night sky, after the moon.
23

Find these items hidden 

onboard the Space Station:

Astronaut Chess Pieces Earth 

Guitar Robot Rocket Satellite

Shoe Tomato

I Spy onboard Space Station
24

Find the MARS ROVER

Did You Know?

The Mars Reconnaissance 

Orbiter provides relay 

support to the Mars 

Exploration Rovers: Spirit 

and Opportunity.

Start your mission here to 

navigate to the Mars Rover 

at the center of the maze! 
25

Find ME

Find the martian in the picture below.
26

Our Goal

The nation’s goal for space exploration is to lead an 

effort that expands human presence deeper into the 

solar system through a sustainable human and robotic 

spaceflight program.

(a) LONG TERM GOALS – The long-term goals 

of the human space flight and exploration 

efforts of NASA shall be:

(1) to expand permanent human presence 

beyond low-Earth orbit and to do so, 

where practical, in a manner involving 

international, academic, and industry 

partners;

(2) crewed missions and progress toward achieving the goal in paragraph 

(1) to enable the potential for subsequent human exploration and the 

extension of human presence throughout the solar system; and

(3) to enable a capability to extend human presence, including potential 

human habitation on another celestial body and a thriving space 

economy in the 21st century.

Future space exploration
27

Page 3—SCaN Word Search:

Answer key

C M 

p s D u 0 F A H 

H Q L J L H E X 0 N Q C 

T D R R A D A R p 0 s K V p Q H u 

w C F p D N L F D N R 0 J Q H N H C E 

D Q Q L 0 E V T C y F X X M L C 0 0 G 

s D J F D N T N Q s M R F 

L p p C 0 p z R N M s M M M G 

T u D X 0 N u F J R 

H H V F M C z z V N C V E 

z J Q p E H T u V F T J 

s A T E L L u R C 0 J u 0 C y V 

s p G E p R 0 G s N C R E R A R s V E w 

W H Q C E X p J H y H N D T J T T A C 

D G T z A L L E A N V B X D E R X y s 

H G D C E C R A F T 0 y 0 F B 

V N E N T s T L T 

~ N M R V B 

G B z C X G H J R V B D w 

A u L V p Q 0 H F R z E R L J H T T s C 

V N 0 z y C Q N L s F w T 0 D T s M s T C 

z T J Q y s z A C X w E s A X G Q C 

z G E Q X L E z u W K N Q z D F R C p 0 A 

B G N D B Q N E T W 0 R K H N y A 0 N 

p Q N X V C p E A T A D G u G W H 

L A y D u u C p p y w C 

w X L X w B M K 0 

N B C 
28

Page 9—Match the Satellites:

Page 11—Satellite Odd One Out: 

C and E

Page 7—Decode the Signal: 

Navigation

Page 6—Navigate to Orbit:

Page 8—Where Am I?:

Answer key
29

Answer key 3/3/17, 6:20 AM

https://worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make-your-own/crossword/crossword.php Page 1 of 2

Solar Star Networks Radar Link Mission Rocket Gravity Satellite Planets Radar Apogee Payload 

Antenna Perigee Lunar Orbit NASA Space Communications Latitude Launch Galaxy Receiver Tracking 

Spacecraft Longitude Robot Rover Meteor

1

2

3

4 5 6

7 8

9

10

11 12

13 14 15

16

17 18

19 20 21 22

23 24

25

26

27

Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Crossword Puzzle Generator

METEO

ROVER MISS ON

NASA

STAR

L AT I T UDE

ROCKE T

RADAR PLANETS

OR B I T

LUNAR

GALAXY

SPACE

G

R

A

V

I

T

Y

L

I

A K

T

E

L

L

T

E

P

A

Y

O

A

D

O

B

O

S

P

C

E

R

A

F

E

W

R

L

O

G

I

U

D

C OMMU NI C A T I ONS P

E

R

G

E

TRACKING

A

P

O

E

E

A

A

N

T

N

N

R E CE I V E R

A

U

N

H

O

L

R

Page 16—Galactic Crossword:

Page 19—Connect the Dots:

-

- - - t--

-

-

I 

I 

I 

I 

t--

- I 

-~ 

Phoenix 

What Is a Constellation? 

Agroupof!lars thatformsapartlcula,shape 

In lhtskyand ha1 t>tt-n 9lv~ a !'la~. 

- -

t-- -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - t--

t-- - t-- - t--

- - I 

t-- - - t--

t--

I 

-

- I 
30

Page 21—Match the Rockets:

Answer key

Page 23—I Spy Onboard Space Station:

Page 20—Space Word Scramble

ETASORID ASIEBOID 

AENLTP elMilEI 

EOCTKR BOC~EI 

RATEH EARTl::l 

MNOO MOO~ 

RSMA MABS 

I LS LATE ET SMEI I IIE 

TBROI OBBII 

LXAYGA GAi M,.Y. 

STURTOANA ASIBO~AI II 

ROTMEE MEIEOB 

ATSR SIAB 

ERRVO BO~EB 

IIMSNSO MISSIO~ 

CPAES seACE 
31

Page 24—Find the Mars Rover:

Answer key

Page 25—Find Me:
32

ANSWER KEY

Page 35—Create Your Own Space Communications Networks:
33

NOTES
34

NOTES

....., 

I . / I 

I 

\ 

\ 

/ 

\ \ 

\ 

I 

I \ 

I \ 

l \ 

I I 
35

Create your own space 

Communications Networks

Match the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Fun Stickers to 

the correct shapes in the picture below to create your own 

space communications networks!

Mars

Moon

Earth
36