What on-Board Autonomy Means for Ground Operations: An Autonomy Demonstrator Conceptual Design
Patricia Grandjean, T. Pesquet, A.M.M. Muxi, Marie‐Claire Charmeau · Space OPS 2004 Conference · 2004
One of the main drivers when designing and building future space system is to cut down the associated costs. Upgrading the overall level of spacecraft on-board autonomy and thus reducing mission operations complexity, seems a promising way available to system designers but this approach faces a general reluctance to embark autonomy functions on behalf of the associated risks of losing direct control on vital functions. The French Agency CNES initiated a coordinated set of research studies with autonomy as a general theme aiming at demonstrating to spacecraft designers, controllers, and mission managers the feasibility of extended on-board autonomy based on state-of-the-art technology. A main goal of that project is to build a ground demonstrator, simulating an autonomous space mission and the associated ground control, aiming at demonstrating that actual on-board autonomy is within reach with an acceptable reliability level. This paper presents the results of a study dedicated to the definition of ground segments for autonomous space systems. It shows the role of the ground systems from an operational and functional point of view.