The XTCE Standardization Approach of Telemetry and Telecommand Databases: The ESA Example

Abstract

Space operators’ telemetry and commanding data, although committed to using international standards for transmission between space systems, are collected into highly heterogeneous and non-standard databases through-out space missions and agencies. Additionally, many of these operators support multiple heterogeneous missions using a common ground segment infrastructure. During the whole space system’s development and operation phases, telemetry and command definitions must be exchanged among all of these phases, systems, and organizations. Without a standard format, databases need dedicated converters between proprietary formats and editors. This is a painful work and waste of budget, as well as being an error-prone exchange process. For these reasons the XML Telemetric & Command Exchange (XTCE) standard is being developed with the goal of standardizing the format of databases to facilitate exchange and cooperation between space agencies. The purpose of a standard database format is to improve reuse between missions, the exchange of information during the different phases of a mission and in between missions, and thereby reducing costs and sources of errors. This document presents the XTCE format and its preliminary application to ESA SCOS-2000 Mission Information Database (MIB). This initial experience before the final release of the XTCE standard allows ESA to participate in its evolution and enhance it using real application results. I. The origin of the XML Telemetric & Command Exchange format TCE, the XML Telemetric and Command Exchange standard [1], is a new standard format for the purpose of operational database exchange. XTCE was developed under OMG Domain Space Task Force by a team of ESA, NASA, Lookheed Martin and Boeing and is currently under Agency Review by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) to be adopted as a recommended CCSDS standard. XTCE is a solution to exchange telemetry and telecommand databases during the development and operation phases of a mission. It can be used to exchange a database between spacecraft manufacturers, instrument manufacturers, and different systems of the ground segment. X