Low Cost Ground Systems for the
Small LEO Satellites
Bruno Dupas
Integral Systems Europe
High Tech Buro C, Voie Garance,
31677 LABEGE Cedex France
(33) 5 61001711
Fax: (33) 5 61002213
Email: [email protected]
The entire industry of manufacturing satellites and operating satellite missions has
been facing cost and schedule pressures never seen before. The need to lower the cost
and delivery time of a satellite and its mission infrastructure is present in all market
segments including commercial, civilian government, and military programs. The
market has demanded more satellites and more mission content for each EURO. This
has forced the industry to change the traditional custom crafted “one-at-a-time”
production model to one that can address the realities of the market. This evolution of
the production is as valid for a satellite ground system as it is for the satellite itself.
In the Earth Observation industry, the “SMALL LEO” approach has attracted a lot of
interest in the recent years. Typical examples are:
• APL in the USA who is providing small satellites for NASA: NEAR, Timed,
Contour, Messenger
• ROCSAT in TAIWAN with ROCSAT-1 flying at the moment and ROCSAT2
and 3 under construction
• ESA with GOCE, Cryosat
These small LEO programs have required also small budget despite the fact that
these missions still includes the complexity of LEO missions. Integral Systems
anticipated this reality in the early 90’s in developing the EPOCH COTS product
line.
Integral has been involved in several Small LEO ground (APL, ROCSAT) and we
have identified a number of lessons to build a cost-effective solution for SMALL
LEOs:
•
•
•
•
Use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf products at all levels: software and
hardware. If they are proven and really database drive, they help a lot for
Ground segment development
Use of common solution all along the life-cycle of the satellite: from testing
the payload to operate the satellite
Automation of operations to reduce operations costs
Multi-mission solutions that can be reused from one mission to another
A COMPLETE LIFECYCLE SOLUTION for developing small LEO programs
Using a common solution for testing and operating small LEO satellites provides an
efficient way to reduce COST and SCHEDULE.
INTEGRAL has experienced the benefits in several programs:
•
Minimize ground system development cost
•
Minimize life cycle costs: 10% to 25% of the lifecycle cost of a unique system
• Eliminate inefficiencies caused by multiple systems: Database inefficiencies,
unnecessary training costs, problems sharing data, analysis results. Database
incompatibility problems are costly and can cause mission disasters
•
8 lifecycle programs involving factory test of sensor payloads, satellite
component testing, Satellite bus, Payload integration, satellite system
testing, launch operations. APL, Orbital Sciences, AQUA/AURA
•
15 EGSE covering a wide range of payload and satellite testing
applications
Satellite
Manufacturer's
Facility
Preliminary Satellite
Specifications
and Database
Satellite
Subsystem
Testing
Instrument Testing
-Bench/Ambient
- Environmental
Test
Procedures,
and Dbase
Input
Instrument
Manufacturer's
Facility
Communication
Payload
Testing
Mission
Operations
Mission Operations
System
Development
Satellite Bus I&T
- Test Procs
- Preliminary SAT
Dbase
Validation
Test Procs, and
Dbase Input
Satellite System
Testing
- Validate S/C Dbase
- Validate Mission
S/W
and Interfaces
Launch
- Final Health and
Readiness Validation
Satellite
Simulator
Mission Operations
System Integration
and Factory
Testing
Ops System
Delivery
Final Satellite
Database
Pre-Launch, Launch
and On-Orbit
Operations
-final testing
-training
COTS products for SMALL LEO Operations
The architecture of a typical SMALL Ground Segment can be summarized as follows:
Image
Processing
Payload Data
Acquisition
Image
Archive
Web
Archive
Browsing
and
ordering
Mission
Planning &
Scheduling
Tracking,
Telemetry &
Command
Flight
Dynamics
Real-Time
Operations
Gateway to
External
TT&C Services
Archive
Web Interface for
Remote Status
Monitoring
Performance
Analysis
COTS products exist now on the market for every component of the Ground
Segment. From our experience, a number of criteria shall be used to select the
right solution:
•
Proven COTS. Since we wish to reduce cost and schedule, no risk shall be
taken by adapting an old product.
•
Database-driven. Again, the objective is to minimize the money and software
development is an activity that consumes a lot of money. A true databasedriven product will avoid specific software development. The database will be
used to capture the essence of the mission
•
Multi-mission solution. Investment should be done once. A multi-mission
system will help to spread the cost over several missions. ROCSAT is a
typical example of this achievement
•
System analysis vs. COTS. To use the COTS in the most efficient way, a
system analysis taking into account the COTS capabilities and the mission
requirements shall be conducted in order to identify the specific development
where it is the most appropriate. When COTS products have to be modified,
the cost could be high. Very often, identifying modification in the subsystem
that are specific and keeping the COTS as is….it saves a lot of money and
time!
Over the years and using this approach, INTEGRAL Systems has been able to
build a system solution.
Features
Benefits
•
Built upon the EPOCH Product Suite
of ground system software
−
Support from the world’s premier supplier of ground
software, Integral Systems.
•
−
No ground system development necessary, allowing
resources to be directed to mission operation.
•
Proven, integrated bundle of all
ground system components needed for
spacecraft operation
End to end automation
−
Reliable, repeatable ground system and spacecraft
operations means lower operations costs and higher quality
of service for your customers
•
Interface to external tracking services
−
Quick and easy access to external tracking stations for
spacecraft emergency or launch and early orbit support.
•
Web interface
−
Easy data access for supporting personnel, either from
their desks or while on the road depending on your
network and firewall configuration.
•
Standard commercially available
antenna, RF, computer and networking
hardware
−
Components from world-renowned suppliers insure
quick hardware support and a known supply of spare
parts.
COTS Software Components
EPOCH T&C – spacecraft
command & control
• EPOCH Database – system
configuration
• EPOCH Web Server – remote
status monitoring
• OASYS – orbit analysis system
• ABE – off-line analysis tool
• Archive Manager – data
management
• Task Initiator – automation
manager
• MPSS – planning & scheduling
• Skylight Software
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
COTS Hardware Components
Full Motion Antenna
§
S, X, L and other bands
HPA
Up- and Downconverters
Integrated Baseband Unit
§ Includes Ranging and Doppler
Measurement
Real-Time Operator Workstations
Off-Line Analysis and Planning
Workstations
Ethernet Based Network Components
Antenna
Ground Equipment
Montor & Control
RF
Equipment
Spacecraft
Command and Control
Archive
Baseband
Equipment
Performance Analysis,
Orbit Determination &
Scheduling
Automation
Internet
Tools