PHASE: A platform for educational experiments and space operations training

Paper number

IAC-06-E1.P.4.03

Author

Dr. Ed Chester, SciSys GmbH / ESA-ESOC, Germany

Year

2006

Abstract

There are many excellent examples of educational projects and outreach aimed to inspire people, especially the young, to pursue careers related to technical disciplines. There are relatively few opportunities for qualified professionals to broaden their skills. One area where there is a distinct lack of available training is spacecraft operations. This is the first issue that the present study aims to address.

Further, in secondary and higher education, courses delivering technical content such as satellite engineering and systems design are rarely able to support theoretical learning with practical projects in these areas – for reasons of cost, time, or both. This project aims to provide some solutions to both of these areas, as well as open up broader educational possibilities, for example in experiment design, weather monitoring, remote sensing, mapping, geography, material sciences, and basic physics for a wide range of ages and abilities. 

This paper presents the work to date in developing ‘PHASE’, the Platform for High Altitude Science Experiments, originally intended for advanced school projects. The balloon-based platform provides simple interfaces for a variety of possible payloads, power and data management, and communications. The designs of the various subsystems emulate the approach in spacecraft design, and operations of the platform are achieved in much the same way as a satellite is operated: via streams of telemetry and telecommands in an environment governed by precise procedures. In an experimental context, for example at a school, such implementation details are hidden. However, by fully exposing the interfaces, PHASE provides a practical operations training tool without the cost or risk of test-bed satellites or industry-strength control systems, but with a realism left lacking in purely simulated exercises. 

After outlining the system architecture, specific educational and training scenarios are detailed. These are being used as reference models during the development work. Although the system has not yet flown, it is hoped to extend the concept to enable standard mission control systems (e.g. ESA’s SCOS-2000) to control and monitor the PHASE balloon and its simple ground segment. It is hoped that the concept will help to fill a variety of educational and training roles, as well as have practical uses during natural disasters such as flooding and forest fires.

Abstract document

IAC-06-E1.P.4.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-E1.P.4.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.