No abstract

Initially the paper compares the standard approach for preparation and conduct of satellite mission operations with the innovative concept successfully employed at the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) during the last four years -the Integrated Concept (IC). The main pitfalls and characteristics of the conventional approach are highlighted, followed by identification of its significant differences to the IC and also a brief description of the present missions successfully operated by GSOC or under preparation -all based on the novel concept.The main section of the paper is divided into two major parts, dealing with the characteristics of the IC and its widespread benefits on different levels and areas in both preparation and conduct of satellite missions operations.The first part identifies the applications of the IC within the MOS (Mission Operation System) from an internal point of view. Here the IC facilitates qualification and validation of "heritage-elements" as well as the MOS integration-, test-and validation process. The pooling of resources and even schedule inbetween different missions is outlined and exemplified, including crucial tasks like interoperability and cross-support -important key elements within the multi-mission environment at GSOC.Interestingly enough, even the implementation of new core systems or major interfaces into the multimission MOS does profit from the integrated approach.Part two addresses the beneficial synergies created by the IC when applied to "external" partnerships and co-operations with customer, scientific or commercial user, payload provider and most important with the spacecraft manufacturer. The often urged and highly recommended controller involvement in satellite-design and -AIT (assembly, integration and test) may result in a variety of common tests, processes, procedures, documents, databases, products and even milestones if actively and consequently pursued. A key element in this context was the procurement, delivery and operation of the so-called "Central Checkout System" (CCS) to the S/C-manufacturer by GSOC -the significance of which will be presented in the paper. Successful execution of joint system tests and simulation and training campaigns as well as common development and validation of flight procedures and display formats for telemetry data are only a few examples in this context. In the training-and simulation phase -project phase D3 -and of course during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) and commissioning of the mission this concept inevitably culminated in the constitution of an integrated operations-team which consisted of technical and management experts from manufacturer of spacecraft and payload, customer and the operations engineers under management and final responsibility by GSOC, however with key functions distributed among the partners according to the expertise available.