Page 49 - hisdeSAT annual report 2014

Technical activity ANNUAL REPORT 2014

4.2 The Ground Control

Segment

The Hisdesat satellite communi- control and supervision of satellites
cations system includes a ground from Earth.
control segment with TTC anten-
nae (Tracking, Telemetry and Com- Due to the fact that the services
mand). These centres analyse the provided are of governmental na-
telemetry and generate commands ture, this is a high security system
for the satellites. They operate with all its elements duplicated to
24x7x365 and are equipped with ensure redundancy.
the most technologically advanced
computer systems available for the

Centres

Arganda and Maspalomas Ottawa (Canada) and Mt. Jackson (USA)

Situated in Spain to service the Provides the ground control seg- bands (X and S), and located in se-
SpainSat satellite. In addition to ment for Xtar-Eur. It has a 16.4m parate geographical zones (Madrid
Maspalomas, in the future the Inta diameter antenna on X and S and Gran Canaria).
centre in Madrid will be operative Bands, one of 6.3m on X Band in
and responsible the PAZ and INGE- Maspalomas, as well as a 6.3m an- Ground Control is capable of ope-
NIO satellites. tenna in Arganda. Depending on rating both satellites, even with
service requirements, the anten- one of the centres completely out
In Arganda, SpainSat has a 16.4m nae can be used interchangeably of service, guaranteeing users con-
diameter antenna on X and S band, for both satellites. tinuous service at all times and un-
and one of 6.3m on X Band. In addi- der any circumstances.
tion, there is another 6.3m antenna Each satellite has two identical
in Maspalomas. These antennae are control centres located in separa-
instantly interchangeable for both te geographic zones. Each of them
satellites, depending on service re- has tracking stations or TTC ante-
quirements. nnae, on two different frequency

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