Practical Training for Spacecraft Operations, a New Concept
- Paper number
IAC-06-E1.4.02
- Author
Mr. Filippo De Rose, VEGA Group, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Christian D. Bodemann, VEGA Informations - Technologien GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Joachim Ochs, VEGA Informations - Technologien GmbH, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Spacecraft operations are probably one of the most important aspects in the field of space. During the last decades hundreds of satellites have been launched and operated. Plenty of effort has been spent in these many years to reduce the cost of spacecraft operations. As a result, many elements of it have been automated. However, operators/engineers will always be mandatory, and universities do not produce spacecraft operations specialists. Thus, one of the main problems in operations will remain: how do we train this key human factor?
The training in itself costs time and money and it is normally performed in two different ways:
- on the job
- via external courses
Spacecraft operating organisations can perform training on the job as they have enough “in-house” experience. However, they need to spend time and money for:
- experienced operators and engineers who have to train beginners
- preparing and organising the training
- usage of real mission critical hardware and software
For the past years, the VEGA Group has developed the Spacecraft Operations Training Centre as a new and alternative training solution, which can be customised to a particular audience and budget. It combines a realistic training environment with a course based on a practical “hands-on” experience. It is composed of a Training Mission Control System, a Spacecraft Mission Simulator and other software tools, such as a 3D spacecraft visualisation facility, in order to support the training. This facility is based on the extensive in-house spacecraft operations experience of VEGA, which has grown for the past 25 years working for numerous clients, including the European Space Agency, EUMETSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT, ASTRA, EADS and NASA’s JPL. The aim of the paper is to show how this new approach of operations training can provide a high quality educational experience, while preparing individuals for the reality of spacecraft operations.
The Training Centre provides both the facilities and the training materials to teach the fundamentals of satellite operations and related technologies. The aim is to go further than a training course, encouraging a real transfer of know-how to scientific or space agencies, universities or spacecraft operating entities world-wide. The Spacecraft Operations Training Centre not only provides a set of training sessions but also installs a complete training package, including hardware, software and if necessary instructors, allowing the user to teach newly arrived team members and conduct refresher training for years to come.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E1.4.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.