Advancing Satellite Operations with the V3C system: Towards Self-Reliant, Robust, and Cloud-Enabled Mission Control

Abstract

The advent of the V3C system (“Verlegefähiges” (mobile) Compact Control Center), developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), marks a significant leap forward in satellite mission control technology. The demand for more flexible, scalable, and resilient mission control systems has become imperative as the space industry evolves. The portable V3C mission control system, designed to be operated on standard laptop computers, is an optimal solution that minimizes reliance on extensive ground infrastructure besides portable radio and antenna systems. The system’s current development state encompasses routine tasks performed by mission control centers, covering the entire spectrum of operations, including mission planning, monitoring, control, flight dynamics, and payload data processing. This paper outlines the development efforts to enhance the V3C system, focusing on the resilience of satellite operations, multinode and multi-tenancy capability, and private cloud functionality to enable seamless mission operations in conjunction and beyond the traditional control centers. We aim to design a decentralized self-reliant system by developing a network of mobile V3C nodes in a redundant configuration, ensuring continued functionality even if a node fails. Additionally, the system allows for dynamic controller node reassignment to extend V3C’s utility to scenarios that require mobile, efficient, and adaptable control solutions, such as disaster alleviation and missions in aerospace and defense. Further, we explore the applicability of Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) techniques for the automated deployment of complete mission operations systems, enabling the V3C to perform complete satellite operations from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) laptops. The ambition extends to deploying V3C in a private cloud using IaC and open-source server virtualization, aiming to enable parallel operation of multiple stationary and mobile V3C instances for different projects and allow system access beyond direct local interaction. The culmination of this work has been implemented and rigorously tested at the FH Aachen Space Operations Facility utilizing DLR’s Boris satellite. A detailed account of the advancements in V3C’s development will be presented, showcasing its potential to perform satellite mission control in the context of responsive space by offering a scalable, robust, and self-reliant system poised to meet the diverse needs of modern space operations.