H3C
CubeSats have evolved from simple technology demonstrators to important assets for space utilization to fulfill a myriad of complex goals. In contrast to small launching expenses, CubeSat operation costs are often higher due to their limited space-to-ground communication capabilities. In addition, the recent emergence of ECSS PUS compliant CubeSat platforms allows the use of traditional ground segment infrastructure rather than adding dedicated mission control software for each new CubeSat. Apart from the idea of saving operation costs, these systems are overloaded with features, many of which are not applicable to CubeSat operations. Modern nanosatellite missions tend to carry numerous increasingly complex scientific and commercial payloads to be operated by various research and commercial entities that wish to operate them from their locations. However, today's mission control systems require much effort to deploy network infrastructure and adapt operational software to the needs of such missions. Moreover, current operation systems also do not have enough automation capabilities to operate single CubeSats or CubeSat fleets cost-efficiently with only a few personnel.
Among other activities, the RSC³ focuses on developing new technologies and solutions for small satellite systems, launch systems, ground systems, and mission operations and designing new architectures and concepts for responsive space systems. We propose a system architecture to allow reconfiguration of established operational technologies and infrastructures to better fit into the active context of state-of-the-art CubeSat mission design, planning, and operational execution. The architecture outfits the design of a Holistic CubeSat Control Center (H3C) and is developed as a scalable service-based ground segment for the preparation and execution of CubeSat operations. It is based on established operation services and ground segment infrastructure from DLR’s German Space Operations Center (GSOC) but will be utilized in a delocalized fashion that enables multiple missions to be operated by multiple operating entities. Also, multiple entities can simultaneously cooperate on the same mission in that same delocalized frame, using newly developed software and existing software solutions running on virtual machines inside a virtual network in a cloud.