Information Satellite Systems Research Articles

Criteria for Evaluating the Processes of Designing Onboard Radio-Electronic Equipment of Space Vehicles

The authors of the article conducted an analysis of approaches, methods, and criteria for evaluating the design processes of onboard radio-electronic equipment. In particular, the key criteria influencing the enhancement of efficiency in designing onboard radio-electronic equipment processes were examined, along with ways to improve them when addressing business process reengineering tasks in design organizations. Based on the analysis conducted and the authors experience in the field of engineering business processes for designing onboard radio-electronic equipment for spacecraft, fourteen groups of quality assessment criteria for business processes were developed. The developed criteria were tested in evaluating the performance of reengineering business processes in the instrumentation department of the Information Satellite Systems named after M. F. Reshetnev Joint-Stock Company. However, due to the vast amount of material obtained during the research and design work conducted, the authors of the article have provided only examples of the development and coordination of the technical specification for the design of onboard radio-electronic equipment for spacecraft as indicative results. The results of the testing showed the effectiveness of the developed criteria for evaluating the design processes of onboard radio-electronic equipment for spacecraft, substantiating the potential for innovation implementation.

Выбор ансамбля широкополосных сигналов для систем спутниковой связи с многостанционным доступом

In purpose to design satellite communication lines and calculate service areas, unfavorable combinations of signal propagation conditions are taken into account, which, when operating a repeater, leads to a significant decrease in the calculated signal level compared to the one actually used. The main indicator in this case is the correspondence of the declared level of the power flux density created by the satellite repeater at the Earth's surface to the real one. This task is of the highest priority in order to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of radioelectronic means and to ensure the required transmission capacity of information satellite systems.

Research of the ranges of effective application of unified space platforms for geostationary communication satellites

The topical problem of choosing the standard size of the unified space platform developed by the joint-stock company «Academician M. F. Reshetnev» Information Satellite Systems» for geostationary communication satellites has been formulated. Previously, the task of assessing the effectiveness of using the developed unified platforms for creating a new spacecraft was solved to a greater extent empirically, by generalizing the groundwork for existing developments and assessing the possibility and feasibility of using the existing groundwork in the future (development continuity). However, a methodological basis for solving this kind of problem has not yet been developed. As part of the study, a model for assessing the efficiency of a spacecraft based on a unified space platform was developed. A method for evaluating the effectiveness of the use of unified space platforms with an excess resource (in terms of mass and energy consumption) for the payload and a method for evaluating the effectiveness of using a modernized unified space platform, which makes it possible to meet increased resource requirements (in terms of weight and energy consumption) for the payload, have been developed. With the help of the developed methods, the assessment of the range of effective use of a unified space platform for geostationary communication satellites developed by JSC ISS was carried out, both without revision and with the necessary modernization for a specific project (payload).

Efficiency of implementing the matrix management model in the enterprises of military-industrial complex

To assess the efficiency of implementing the matrix management model, the article analyzes the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of a specific region – the Krasnoyarsk territory. In the Krasnoyarsk territory there are several enterprises engaged in the production of military-industrial products. The article considers three of them, and namely the joint stock company “Information Satellite Systems named after academician M.F. Reshetnev”, the joint stock company “Krasnoyarsk Machine-building Plant” and the joint stock company “Scientific and Production Enterprise “Radiosvyaz”. The article postulates and declares that the matrix structure is the most effective for management and sustainable development of the enterprises.

Application of focused electromagnetic fields in satellite construction processes and fault diagnostics

Near field focused antenna properties most relevant in terms of their practical application are briefly presented. The process and diagnostic applications already implemented as satellite construction practices at Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems as well as their promising applications are considered.

Prognostic potential of mathematical experiment planning

The ground-experimental testing of the elements of space technology is a crucial stage in the creation of space products, in fact, this is the ground «flight» of the devices being created. And how well the operating conditions will be reproduced at this stage and the successful functioning of the devices under the expected conditions is ensured, its successful operation in real flight during the service life depends. Electronic equipment (apparatus) of the spacecraft is one of the essential elements that ensure the fulfillment of target tasks, which should confirm their readiness for the forthcoming work at the stage of ground-based experimental testing. The technology of experimental development at a time when the scientific and production association of applied mechanics (now the JSC Academician M. F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems) was part of the circle of enterprises that created space technology. And at the same time, the peak of research and implementation in the engineering practice of mathematical experiment planning turned out to be very timely. There was a backlog of applied work in various branches of science and technology and a minimum of work on radio-electronic topics, since the element base of the latter did not allow managing the internal parameters of electronic components, i. e., to reveal the influence of internal factors. This became an obstacle to the implementation of the capabilities of the method in research and improvement of electronic equipment. The article shows how the developers of the enterprise equipment overcame the existing limitations and successfully applied mathematical planning of the experiment for the first time in Russian space technology. Using the capabilities of the methodology, the tasks of optimization of circuit design and design implementation of devices, the choice of the element base for space equipment, the establishment of tolerances and the formation of test modes, etc. were solved.

Development of Tooling and Modes of Dispersion for Powders of Solder Aluminum Alloys

It is known that the main factor specifying the dispersity of spraying of particles of metallic powders is the energy of blowing, which is, as a rule, controlled by the speed of supply of gaseous energy carrier to the jet of the melt. We study the modes of manufacturing and, on the basis of the results of computer simulation, develop special tooling for the procedure of dispersion of powders of solder aluminum alloys. We consider technical and technological schemes of getting powders from aluminum alloys intended for soldering the waveguides. The computer investigations of the influence of the geometry of structural elements of equipment on the parameters of dispersion of the AK12Ts10 melt are carried out by using the Solidworks Flow Simulation package for engineering analysis. In this case, it is assumed that the speed of the gas (argon) jet at a temperature of 20°С at the site of collision with the melt must be maximum for the identical other conditions (initial pressure, gas temperature, and temperature of the melt). We establish the dependences necessary and sufficient for the design of structural elements of the equipment and the creation of technological modes guaranteeing the realization of conditions of stability of the process of dispersion of the metal melt in getting powder of the required fraction (70 μm) in a laboratory installation. We present a description of the installation intended for the dispersion of AK12Ts10 melts with the help of which we prepared a pilot batch of a powder fraction 70 μm in size with a mass of 400 g. This batch was then delivered to the Reshetnev “Information Satellite Systems” Enterprise for industrial tests aimed at soldering aluminum waveguides. The tests of the paste in the course of soldering of elements of the waveguides under industrial conditions exhibited positive results.

Attitude and Orbit Control Systems of Russian Communication, Navigation and Geodesic Satellites: History, Present and Future

JSC ”Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems” (ISS Reshetnev) is Russian leader in development, manufacture and operations of communication, navigation and geodetic spacecraft, as well as Russian State Programme for development of the satellite telecommunication systems. We shortly present research and industrial results achieved by ISS Reshetnev in attitude control of the satellites with regard to history, present and future.

Language and Toolset for Visual Construction of Programs for Intelligent Autonomous Spacecraft Control

The paper describes approach to Autonomous Fault Tolerant Intelligent Control of Spacecraft based on usage of Onboard Real-Time Interpreter of Integrated Control Programs, including special Diagnostic Routine. Rules of the Autonomous Control Program could be added or refined from Earth in operative manner by radio channel. Specially designed Visual Domain Specific Language allowing Control Logic Designers check, analyze and construct Rules in user friendly graphical environment excluding necessity to involve Software Developers. Proposed approach allows reducing of costs and labor consuming of Space Mission because of reducing of efforts needed for common-style Flight Control Software coding, multi-stage testing and support. Special Software Engineering Toolset that including Visualizer and Graphical Constructor of these autonomous control programs presented as well as the principles of its design and development. The Prototype of the Toolset has been successfully introduced at JSC Information Satellite Systems, Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia.

Toolset for Construction and Verification of Rules for Spacecraft's Autonomous Decision Making

Dependability of control system is one of the most complex problems in space projects. Decision making in case of contingencies is a non-trivial process requiring some “intelligence”. We can implement the “onboard intelligence” in different ways. The most common approach involves its implementation in the source code of the flight control software. The approach presented in the paper uses an onboard real-time decision making system. The decision making rules can be added or updated from Earth by radio channel. Currently, the rules should be specified in a table form, leading to misunderstandings in project team and errors. The improved approach provides the special toolset including, visual constructor of rules and support of rules’ verification. The proposed approach allows the engineers to define visually construct and update the decision making rules without programming background easily. The toolset prototype was positively evaluated at enterprise JSC Information Satellite Systems, Russia.

An Integrated System of Training Engineers for Aerospace Industry in Siberia Using Innovative Technology of the Student Project-and-team Work

The implementation of the project-and-team education technology in the educational process at realization of a unique project to develop and create a series of student research and educational small spacecraft are discussed. Innovative learning technology developed at the Siberian State Aerospace University in cooperation with strategic partners of JSC “Information Satellite Systems” named after academician M.F. Reshetnev” (JSC “ISS”) and Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KSC SB RAS). Typically, 36 students of the 3d, 4th and 5th years of study take part in the project simultaneously. When passing to the following year of study the student becomes tutor for younger student of the same direction sharing its experience with him. The final result of student's scientific works followed by the graduation project on its direction is the development and manufacturing of а real satellite device or element which will be mounted on-board the satellite and launched in space.

Continuing vocational training in the space industry: a Siberian case study

The development of a continuing vocational training programme at the Information Satellite Systems Joint-Stock Company (ISS JSC) during the transition from the planned Soviet economy to what is now called the Russian market economy is briefly outlined. How the collapse of a planned economy led to the degradation of engineering higher education (HE) is shown. The present system of engineering HE is criticized as a degraded relic of the Soviet one and an argument is made in favour of continuing vocational training in businesses like the ISS JSC, where the engineers are engaged in innovative activities. The schematic programme of training, retraining and improving the professional skills of the company’s personnel is presented. Some work assignments of the centre for personnel management at the ISS JSC are examined, in particular the preparation of target students along the ‘school–HE–industry’ chain.