Page 51 - hisdeSAT annual report 2012

TECHNICAL ACTIVITY

5.2 The ground control segment The

Hisdesat system of communications has a ground control segment
for the satellites, with centres which analyse the telemetry and

prepare commands to the satellites and have TTC antennae

(Tracking, Telemetry and Commands).

They operate 24x7x365 and are equipped with the Ottawa (Canadá) and Mt Jackson (USA)
most technologically advanced computer systems, for
the control and supervision of the satellites from earth. Provides the ground control segment to Xtar-Eur.
This has an antenna of 16,m diameter on X and S
Due to the governmental nature of the services pro- Bands, and one of 6,3m on X Band in Maspalomas,
vided, the system has high security and to this effect as well as an antenna with 6,3m diameter in Argan-
has all its elements duplicated in order to ensure suf- da. The antennae are immediately interchangeable
ficient redundancy. for any of the satellites depending on the require-
ments of the service.
Centres
Each satellite has two identical control centres, lo-
Arganda and Maspalomas (Spain)
cated in separate geographical locations. Similarly,
each of them has tracking stations or TTC antennae,
Located in Spain to service the SpainSat satellite, on two different frequency bands (X y S), located in
and in the future as well as Maspalomas, the Inta separate geographical locations (Madrid and Gran
centre in Madrid will be operative for the satellites Canaria).
Paz and Ingenio.
Ground control permits the operation of both satel-
SpainSat has an antenna with a diameter of 16,4m lites, even with one of the locations completely out
on X and S band, and a 6,3m one on X Band in of service, guaranteeing users continuous service at
Arganda, as well as an antenna with a diameter of any time and under any circumstances
6,3m in Maspalomas. The antennae are immediately
interchangeable for any of the satellites depending on
the requirements of the service.

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