Towards a critical design of an operational ground segment for an Earth observation mission

Abstract

The ground segment for the future remote sensing mission Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP; www.enmap.org) is developed by the Earth Observation Center and the German Space Operations Center at the German Aerospace Center. The launch is scheduled for 2017. An operational satellite ground segment is a highly complex heterogeneous system which has to cope with different levels of criticality, novelty, specificity, and to be operated for many years. It consists of equipment, hard-and software as well as operators with their procedures. The strengths of the global coherence of the segment-wide approach bringing these aspects together is examined and not on the local details of segment-specific issues. However, the effects on two software-based elements of the ground segment are considered in more detail, namely the product library and the level 2geo processor. The development methodology and how the critical design of the complete ground segment finished its detailed design phase successfully was achieved is analyzed. As a measure of the maturity of the design, its stability across the project phases is proposed.

The EnMAP Spaceborne Imaging Spectroscopy Mission for Earth Observation

“…The setup and operation of the EnMAP ground segment is under the responsibility of the Earth Observation Center (EOC) and the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) at the DLR [52]. The ground segment completed its design phase by successfully passing the critical design review in 2010 and is now in production phase.…”

Robust Commanding

“…The first mission to use Incremental Planning, including a Timeline Manager that implements Robust Commanding, is foreseen to be EnMAP. 4 Glossary uplink contact One possibility to command the spacecraft/executing unit, e. g. one ground station contact.…”

The EnMAP Mission Planning System

“…Second, the space segment is responsible for producing the bus and the hyperspectral imager, its integration and testing, as well as the launch; these activities are led by OHB System AG. Third, the ground segment [10][11][12] links the user and space segment by providing facilities and systems for operating the satellite and retrieval of the targeted scientific data; it is led by the Earth Observation Center (EOC) and the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) at DLR.…”

“…Second, the Processor, Calibration, and Validation System (PCV) is responsible for developing the hyperspectral processing chain for radiometrically calibrated, spectrally characterized and geometrically corrected imaging products [11,13]; this system is coordinated by the Remote Sensing Technology Institute (IMF) at DLR. Third, the Payload Ground System (PGS) is responsible for data reception, processing and archiving, as well as to establish a web interface to the scientific user community [14]; it is established by the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) at DLR.…”