Mission operation, ground segment and services for the German TET-1 microsatellite

Abstract

The TET-mission (“Technologie-Erprobungs-Träger”) is the core-element of the On-Orbit Verification (OOV) space program of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) with the goal to provide regular and short-term flight opportunities to industry and research institutes for in-orbit verification of new and innovative space-technologies. The main section of the paper focuses on the description of the mission elements provided by DLR itself under different contractual scenarios, which are ground-segment, mission operations, services and products provided for the users and their integration into the multi-mission environment of DLR facilities – all of this at low cost with sufficient reliability and acceptable risks. As TET-1 constitutes the first spacecraft of a program dedicated to promote new orbit technologies and to provide compatible and space-qualified small platforms for different space sensors, the paper concludes with an outlook on ground-segment extensions and operations concept enhancements to support cost efficient and reliable ground-systems and operational scenarios for this new family of micro-satellites.