Mission Operations Preparation

Abstract

This chapter describes the tasks and activities required to prepare for mission operations. The success of a space mission depends not only on a properly designed and built space segment and the successful launch via a launch segment. It also depends on the ground segment and successful mission operations carried out by a team of experts using the mission ground segment infrastructure and processes. Its organization and design, as well as the assembly, integration, test, and verification (AITV) are therefore as important as the respective activities of the space and launch segment. In this context, a ground segment consists of a ground system, i.e. infrastructure, hardware, software, and processes, and a team that conducts the necessary operations on the space segment.