Session
Session X: Ground Systems
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper introduces the Open-source Python Tool for Awareness of Spacecraft and Analysis of Telemetry, or OPTASAT, software for spacecraft mission operations and planning. OPTASAT is modular and extensible, and incorporates multiple tools to contextualize spacecraft data. The increasing access to space is also growing the pool of spacecraft operators. There is a need for spacecraft operations tools that are open source and accessible. The best tools for modeling and understanding the situation of a satellite in space currently have high barriers to entry including cost, learning curves, and complex interfaces. Missions that cost over $100M and last for years justify hundreds of thousands of dollars for operating software and months of training for operators, but few-million-dollar, two-year missions (as commonly found in smallsats) do not. OPTASAT includes tools to assist with planning for beta angles, astronomical target selection, and Earth-observing sensor simulation. These tools can be used for end-to-end planning of mission actions, from concept to test and operation of the spacecraft. Visualization of data is a priority in the display of data in order to reduce learning curves. OPTASAT is fully open-source and adaptable, as operators need the ability to adjust their software to tailor it to the particular parameters of their missions to suport the wide variety of spacecraft and missions that exist today. In particular, this paper will present examples of astronomy missions, Earth-observing missions, and multi-spacecraft coordination missions that can be analyzed through OPTASAT.
OPTASAT: An Open-Source, Flexible Software Framework for Small Satellite Operations
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper introduces the Open-source Python Tool for Awareness of Spacecraft and Analysis of Telemetry, or OPTASAT, software for spacecraft mission operations and planning. OPTASAT is modular and extensible, and incorporates multiple tools to contextualize spacecraft data. The increasing access to space is also growing the pool of spacecraft operators. There is a need for spacecraft operations tools that are open source and accessible. The best tools for modeling and understanding the situation of a satellite in space currently have high barriers to entry including cost, learning curves, and complex interfaces. Missions that cost over $100M and last for years justify hundreds of thousands of dollars for operating software and months of training for operators, but few-million-dollar, two-year missions (as commonly found in smallsats) do not. OPTASAT includes tools to assist with planning for beta angles, astronomical target selection, and Earth-observing sensor simulation. These tools can be used for end-to-end planning of mission actions, from concept to test and operation of the spacecraft. Visualization of data is a priority in the display of data in order to reduce learning curves. OPTASAT is fully open-source and adaptable, as operators need the ability to adjust their software to tailor it to the particular parameters of their missions to suport the wide variety of spacecraft and missions that exist today. In particular, this paper will present examples of astronomy missions, Earth-observing missions, and multi-spacecraft coordination missions that can be analyzed through OPTASAT.
