Mission Operations
Mission operations engineering is about the identification of processes, tools, and data that can help do space mission operations better and more cost effectively.
Work in the chair of space Systems Engineering is focussing on the development of an operations simulator (OPSAT). This simulator is based on the SMART 1 project testbed developed by Lex Meijer. Research supervisor is Rob Hamann.
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In case you are interested in an assignment in this field, make sure that the following MSc courses are part of your study:
- ae4-s12 Space Systems Engineering
- ae4-s51 Electrical and Information Systems for Spacecraft
- ae4-s02 Spacecraft Mechatronics
- ae4-870 Rocket Motion
- ae4-873 (I) Astrodynamics I
SMART 1 Project Test Bed
Focus is on the power model in the space segment node of the SMART 1 model. Power is the major system driver for this mission since its primary objective is to flight test Solar Electric Primary Propulsion as the key technology for future Cornerstones in a mission representative of a deep-space one. Hence upgrading all subsystem-models with the latest power budgets, and adding codes for e.g. simulation of the degradation of the solar arrays during the mission life will be a part of this task. Several parameters, as for example the excess power, will be of great importance for the system as it is currently designed, but also for mission and operation planning during any phase in the mission. The importance of the link between the mission objective and the power subsystem is evident and will be reflected throughout the development of the power model.
Another feature, which is related to the systems engineering discipline, is the close interaction with the SMART 1 mission specialist on all the different subsystems, including contact with ESOC for the latest trajectory data. After having upgraded the power model in the SMART 1 Project Test Bed, there will be a period of extensive verification of the new model, and several simulations will be run in order to verify specific orbital conditions and operational usage for the SMART 1 spacecraft. Finally running end-to-end simulations with the upgraded SMART 1 model will be performed and analysed in order to support the SMART 1 operation and mission planning.
Eventually, if there is an excess of time, an improvement of the communications subsystem model will be design and implemented.
