Session
Technical Poster Session 2
Location
Utah State University, Logan UT
Abstract
As geostationary orbit (GEO) rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) missions are being launched as a means to provide life-extension services to active GEO satellites, new novel approaches to ground communication architecture have potential to simplify servicer design, reduce RF interference, and reduce overall mission operation costs. One such approach discussed here involves the servicer vehicle utilizing the client vehicle's active antenna and data stream during combined-stack operations versus maintaining a distinct communication stream with a separate ground station. The proposed method to accomplish this is to provide a physical umbilical connection during docking operations, allowing the servicer vehicle to provide power and transfer data to the client vehicle. Data that is unique to the servicer is isolated after reaching the client's ground station and transmitted to the servicer operations center. Challenges to this solution are explored, mainly including fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) concerns related to sustaining client operations with adequate security and minimal degradation, as well as protecting servicer vehicle functionality in the interest of servicing multiple clients per mission. Mitigations to these challenges include selection criteria for potential client vehicles, using intersatellite optical links, redundant umbilical hardware, and redundant communication system considerations.
Novel Ground Communication for GEO Servicing Missions
Utah State University, Logan UT
As geostationary orbit (GEO) rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) missions are being launched as a means to provide life-extension services to active GEO satellites, new novel approaches to ground communication architecture have potential to simplify servicer design, reduce RF interference, and reduce overall mission operation costs. One such approach discussed here involves the servicer vehicle utilizing the client vehicle's active antenna and data stream during combined-stack operations versus maintaining a distinct communication stream with a separate ground station. The proposed method to accomplish this is to provide a physical umbilical connection during docking operations, allowing the servicer vehicle to provide power and transfer data to the client vehicle. Data that is unique to the servicer is isolated after reaching the client's ground station and transmitted to the servicer operations center. Challenges to this solution are explored, mainly including fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) concerns related to sustaining client operations with adequate security and minimal degradation, as well as protecting servicer vehicle functionality in the interest of servicing multiple clients per mission. Mitigations to these challenges include selection criteria for potential client vehicles, using intersatellite optical links, redundant umbilical hardware, and redundant communication system considerations.
