GSOC - Integrating Packetised Telecommanding and Multimission Cross Support

Abstract

Many of the new generation of satellites to be flow by DLR/GSOC apply the new packet telemetry and telecommand protocols as defined in the ESA Packet Telemetry and Telecommand Standards. Consequently, GSOC had to upgrade its multi-mission control center facilities in order to include the required new functionality. Due to the fact that, for many of its missions, GSOC requires cross support from other agencies, the existing capabilities particularly those relating to external ground stations interfaces had to be retained and in some cases expanded. The new Packet Telecommand Standard had a major impact on the GSOC telecommand System architecture, the "Frame Operations Procedure" (FOP) of the "Command Operations Procedure" (COP-1) protocol had to be integrated into the existing system. This was primarily to ensure that ESA standard compliance was retaind within the GSOC control center itselfs and also to provide independence from the many ground stations integrated into the support network. This paper describes the approach taken by GSOC to upgrade the capabilities of its telecommand system. It also takes a look at the requirements and restrictions imposed by the necessity to provide cross support to an increasing number of external agencies and defines impacts on the telecommand systems architecture by illustrating certain typical mission scenarios.