The Use of Hibernation Modes for Deep Space Missions as a Method to Lower Mission Operations Costs

Presenter Information

E. Reynolds, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
P. Panneton, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
M. Reinhart, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
D. Mehoke, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
W. Dellinger, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
S. Williams, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
J. Perschy, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
R. Harvey, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
P. Carr, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Session

Technical Session VIIIA: Innovative Mission Operations Concepts

Abstract

Hibernation modes have been used in the past in the commercial and military sector under the name of ‘on-orbit storage’ or ‘onorbit spare’. Satellites that have used this technique include: METEOSAT-5 (Europe). SOOS (Navy), NOVA (Navy), GOES-10 (NOAA). These spares are used to quickly restore functionality of the system if there should be an on-orbit failure. Up until now, scientific satellites have not incorporated hibernation modes in their baseline mission timeline – though several missions used them to perform extended missions: GIOTTO and ISEE- 3/ICE. During its competitive proposal phase, CONTOUR baselined a hibernation mode as a method to reduce mission operations costs and to reduce the burden on DSN resources. CONTOUR’s hibernation mode reduces the spacecraft’s required functionality to a minimum in a power stable, thermally stable, spin stabilized attitude. The European Space Agency (ESA) Rosetta mission is also implementing a hibernation mode in its baseline mission. This paper is intended to educate the reader on the different facets of CONTOUR’s hibernation mode and issues that were taken into account during design.