The software architecture for TET and AsteroidFinder satellites

Abstract

The software architecture for TET and AsteroidFinder satellites is a further step in the development line first used for the BIRD satellite. The new improvements add dependability, flexibility and simplicity to a core avionic system already implemented, simulated and tested in similar ESA and industrial projects, proving the basic concept of the architecture. The new core avionic concept targets the problems of complexity, software-hardware interfaces, and the difficulties of merging many different interfaces into a single system by providing a very simple solution of integrated software and hardware, thus eliminating the barrier between the two. Through this concept both the bus control and payload control can be handled through one system. Implementing a complex parallel system safely requires the composition of a network of simple sequential cooperating applications which can communicate by using well defined interfaces. The basic communication principles common to all target systems are decribed in this paper.