ESA Ground Operation System Architecture and the Impact on Existing ESOC Ground Data Systems

Abstract

T European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) is responsible for the provision of ground segments for the operation and control of many ESA missions. The scope of the ground segment encompasses the elements required on ground to provide the requisite monitoring and control capabilities. This ranges from the ground stations, through the mission control and fl ight dynamics functionality, to the archiving and distribution of data to the science community and, in some cases, the initial processing of science data. The provision of simulators for training and operations validation purposes is also covered. ESOC is currently carrying out an ambitious program to standardize the infrastructure used throughout its ground segments in an effort to improve the reliability, cost effectiveness, and interoperability. The end product of this program will be the ESA Ground Operation System (EGOS). Many of the systems that are used in the ground segment have been developed in the past using a variety of different technologies and policies, quite often as standalone projects that did not take into