Accommodated Check-out and Mission Control and Data System

Abstract

S2TEP-1 is the first in a series of satellites using the Small Satellite Technology Platform, in short S2TEP. It is developed by the Institute of Space Systems of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and it will be operated by the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. In order to accommodate to the overall low mission costs and high mission risk, a lightweight approach based on a flexible and (partly) autonomous Ground Segment (G/S) has been foreseen. Synergies with other satellite missions at GSOC or with the Central Checkout System (CCS) will be used wherever applicable and productive. A high degree of automation shall be assured. As the desired degree of external interaction from the customer exceeds that of any mission operated by GSOC so far, a Remote Control Center (RCC) has to be established, from where anomaly recovery operations and special payload campaigns can be performed. The focus of our approach lies on cost effectiveness, a shorter development time, user-friendliness and reusability. A high level of security is not required by the project, nevertheless an adequate level of reliability and security is provided. Three designs that meet these requirements are described and discussed in this paper, together with the constraints that arise from implementing them within the current network infrastructure at GSOC. The chosen design for the Central Checkout and Mission Control and Data System is presented: the final approach results in a system built in a nearly traditional way integrated in the multi-mission environment of GSOC.