On the new CCSDS standard for space telemetry: turbo codes and symbol synchronization

A turbo code has been included in the new Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) channel coding standard for space telemetry. Many future missions with critical link budgets will benefit from its large coding gain. In this paper, the properties of this turbo code are analyzed for symbol synchronization recovery, where the transition density is essential. Key parameters like transition/symbol probability and run-length distribution are studied and compared against practical requirements. Critical working conditions are considered separately and discussed. It is shown that, thanks to the interleaver action, turbo-encoded sequences have very good properties in terms of randomness