Development and Simulation of a South African Satellite Camera on a Satellite Testbench for Capacity Building in Space Operations, Training and Research

Abstract

AbstractMore and more countries are operating their own national satellites. In recent years, states like Peru, Angola, Bangladesh and Qatar have launched their very first satellite missions. Many of these states aim for multiple socio-economic benefits: the mission tasks typically cover disaster management, agricultural monitoring, water management, fisheries and national security. With their own ground stations and a mission control system, the corresponding national institution can fully control such satellites after launch. A problem that emerging space nations often face is that of knowledge transfer to their respective local industry and academia, especially in the area of onboard computers, onboard software and operations. In 2016, the University of Stuttgart and the University of Cape Town (UCT) decided to strengthen and deepen the cooperation in research and education in the field of space sciences and technologies between both institutions. This partnership, supported by additional industrial sponsors Cobham Gaisler, Sweden and Terma B.V Netherlands, and Airbus, provided UCT with a fully representative satellite simulation, a digital twin of the “Flying Laptop” mission. This comprises the simulator, the flight software and a real mission control system—namely the Satellite Control and Operation System CCS5. The CCS5 runs together with the spacecraft simulation software on a single high-performance workstation. The third application is the flight software development environment. Multiple monitors allow users to simultaneously display the different parts of the simulation as it is running: The Airbus simulator SimTG (Simulator Third Generation) itself, the hardware emulator for the onboard software called TSIM, and a visualization of the satellite in orbit. This equipment enables now satellite software development and operator training at UCT. For UCT, this is a significant step in academic excellence, research and development (R&D) and innovation and capacity building in the field of space sciences and technology. Students who gained experience at Stuttgart University and further insights from Airbus Defense and Space in Fridrichafen will perform the training in Cape Town. This ensures that the personnel in Cape Town will be fully trained in the system’s operation. In addition, phone support from experienced Airbus engineers is available. At the time of writing this abstract, the system is being established. The team at UCT will simulate a flight scenario which covers vegetation monitoring using optical payload instruments and a detailed explanation on how to model a satellite and its subsystems and the effects of the simulator on local capacity growth. This will be an impactful demonstration of South African academic competence in mission operations and spacecraft modelling.KeywordsTraining and knowledge transferSimulation and operationsEducational application of space operation