Santa Maria Groundstation Validation and Support to Ariane-5 ATV OPS-G Forum Gerhard Billig 15 July 2008

Agenda Groundstation Validation Infrastructure Operational Setup and Preparations Launch Operations Outlook - Upgrade of Perth groundstation - Support to other Launcher families

Groundstation Validation

Infrastructure

Operational Setup and Preparations

Launch Operations

Outlook

- Upgrade of Perth groundstation

- Support to other Launcher families

Groundstation Validation - Internally Tested Subsystems - Tracking Tests with Caltower / Satellites Dedicated Autotrack Tests Monitoring and Control TM reception and processing

Tracking Tests with Caltower / Satellites

Dedicated Autotrack Tests

Monitoring and Control

TM reception and processing

Autotrack Validation Angular velocity of launcher (as seen from the groundstation) was much higher than that of satellites Autotrack (dual frequency) was mandatory and primary mode of tracking Aircraft was chosen as carrier for transmitters Trajectory was down-scaled to meet aircraft constraints: Height:  1200m Speed:  200km/h Placement of antennas and power connection was difficult

Angular velocity of launcher (as seen from the groundstation) was much higher than that of satellites

Autotrack (dual frequency) was mandatory and primary mode of tracking

Aircraft was chosen as carrier for transmitters

Trajectory was down-scaled to meet aircraft constraints:

Height:  1200m

Speed:  200km/h

Placement of antennas and power connection was difficult

Track of Ariane-5 over SMA 1st pass: Min Slant Range:  180km at elevation 48° 2nd pass: Min Slant Range: 1100 km at elevation 10°

1st pass:

Min Slant Range:  180km at elevation 48°

2nd pass:

Min Slant Range: 1100 km at elevation 10°

Actual Flightpath

Antenna positioning in aircraft

Equipment Installation

SMA Infrastructure Development: Original View

Finalised Installation at SMA

Inauguration

Operations Preparations and Launch Support

Requirements for Launch Support from SMA Tracking: Dual-frequency Autotrack DO-Programtrack TM Reception and Storage TM Extraction and Forward to CSG Event Detection and Forward Voice Communications

Tracking:

Dual-frequency Autotrack

DO-Programtrack

TM Reception and Storage

TM Extraction and Forward to CSG

Event Detection and Forward

Voice Communications

Ariane-5 ATV: Mission Overview

Ariane-5 ATV Tracking Network - Drivers - Mission Duration: 1.5 Orbits (0.5 orbits for GTO) Long Cruise Phases complicate accurate orbit prediction (Ariane inertial platform sensors) Inclusion of Radars at Europe resolved predication accuracy problems ISS was used as tracking target to exercise network-wide tracking campaigns

Mission Duration: 1.5 Orbits (0.5 orbits for GTO)

Long Cruise Phases complicate accurate orbit prediction (Ariane inertial platform sensors)

Inclusion of Radars at Europe resolved predication accuracy problems

ISS was used as tracking target to exercise network-wide tracking campaigns

Santa Maria Groundstation: Schedule for Operations March 2007: Meeting with CNES/CSG May 2007: Operational Training with CNES October 2007: Operations KoM with CNES at SMA Start of Operational Preparations November 2007: Stand-Alone Tests January 2008: Operational Qualification with CNES February 2008: Mission Readiness Tests (internal) 9th March 2008: Launch of Ariane-5 ATV

March 2007: Meeting with CNES/CSG

May 2007: Operational Training with CNES

October 2007: Operations KoM with CNES at SMA

Start of Operational Preparations

November 2007: Stand-Alone Tests

January 2008: Operational Qualification with CNES

February 2008: Mission Readiness Tests (internal)

9th March 2008: Launch of Ariane-5 ATV

Outlook: Upgrade of Perth groundstation

Outlook: Support to other Launcher Families Vega SSO launch trajectory Vega Maiden Launch Soyuz

Vega SSO launch trajectory

Vega Maiden Launch

Soyuz