1. Applying artificial intelligence to space communications networks: Cognitive real-time link layer adaptations through rapid orbit planning Open Access Author: Hackett, Timothy Michael Title: Applying artificial intelligence to space communications networks: Cognitive real-time link layer adaptations through rapid orbit planning Graduate Program: Electrical Engineering Keywords: artificial neural networksneural networksmodulationencodingcognitive radiospace communicationsmachine learningreinforcement learningschedulingblock schedulingdemand access schedulingbeacon tonenetwork simulationcoverage statisticsmean pass timemean gap timemax gap timemean passes per dayartificial intelligencesoftware-defined radioDeep Space Network File: Download Hackett-Dissertation_Final.pdf Committee Members: Sven G Bilen, Dissertation Advisor/Co-AdvisorSven G Bilen, Committee Chair/Co-ChairJulio Urbina, Committee MemberViveck Ramesh Cadambe, Committee MemberMark P Mahon, Outside MemberAlexander M. Wyglinski, Special Member