Page 44 - hisdeSAT annual report 2011

FULLY PERFORMING

Lastly, 2011 also saw the start of prepara-
tions for the operation of the Paz low orbit
satellite providing radar observation, main-
taining on-site tracking of the construction
of the platform in the German factory, par-
ticipating in the drawing up of INTA’s Ground
Segment Operations Agreement, and ensur-
ing specification of the mission’s requisites
and monitoring the design and develop-
ment of the satellite control centre, includ-
ing its planner and orbital control centre.

improving the preparation and response In short, during 2011 the Operations De-
time in the event of any anomalous situa- partment actively participated in HISDESAT’s
tion that may arise during the operation of three principal programmes:
the satellites.
TTC antenna Maspalomas (Canary Islands)  Defining the requisites and evaluating
Continuing with HISDESAT’s strategic policy the bids for the future HisNorSat satel-
of maximizing flexibility and security in the lite in being responsible for its platform,
operation of its satellites, SpainSat is con- launcher and control centre.
42 The remainder of real time procedures were 43 trolled from the two mission control cen-
applied to the operation of the communi- tres, and 2011 saw six temporary trans-  Monitoring the control centre and pre-
cations payload and the operation of the fer of operations from the nominal control paring the operations of the Paz satel-
different satellite sub-systems, perform- centre in Arganda to the Maspalomas back- lite, being responsible for its future op-
ing, amongst others, sensor inhibitions, ad- up control centre, for eration and planning.
justment of onboard the purposes of keep-
numerous health- clocks, memory dumps, 2011 also saw the ing both centres fully  Running real time operation for the
re-directing of panels, operational. SpainSat satellite for the fifth consecu-
related procedures updating of control pa- start of preparations tive year, being responsible for its op-

rameters, test launch of for the operation On the other hand, eration and health, and obtaining sat-
were also performed, redundant units, etc. all the experience ac- isfactory performance from the satellite,

aimed at monitoring Operative procedures of the Paz low orbit quired in the opera- as with the two control stations located
in Arganda and Maspalomas, essential
tion of geostationary
were also performed
the operative status on the ground satellite status of the satellite sub-systems. These satellite providing communication satel- for operating with maximum security.
lites was utilised in full
control centre, for the
procedures permit forecasting the perfor-
of the satellite automatic detection of mance of each sub-system and predict their radar observation when it came to draw-
events, for the purpos- behaviour, improving the effectiveness of ing up and defining the
sub-systems es of reducing response the operation, for example, reducing the requisites of the plat-
times in the event of number of duplicate manoeuvres as previ- form, the launcher and the control cen-
possible contingencies ously indicated. tre for the new HisNorSat communications
and increasing the reliability of the system. satellite, the contractual process for which
On the other hand, the operational engi- began in 2011. HISDESAT also actively par-
As well as real time procedures, numerous neering team continued with their peri- ticipated in the appraisal of bids received,
health-related procedures were also per- odic simulation and training work on con- considering same from a technical as well as
formed, aimed at monitoring the operative tingency procedures, for the purposes of operational perspective.