A Real-Time Re-Scheduling Algorithm for Spacecraft Instrument Operations Optimization

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time re-scheduling algorithm for spacecraft operations that enhances contingency management, prioritizes data quality, and supports decision-making during anomalies, demonstrated on Sentinel-6 data.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel real-time re-scheduling algorithm specifically designed for spacecraft operations to handle anomalies and optimize mission continuity.

Findings

Effective in managing contingencies during spacecraft operations

Prioritizes onboard memory and data quality in scheduling

Validated with Sentinel-6 mission data

Abstract

The operation-planning of satellites, aimed at introducing a certain level of supervised automation during the execution of the operations, poses a great challenge to both designers and operators. From one side, the routine operations for an Earth Observation mission are predictable and typically repeatable; both these aspects are suitable for computerisation. On the other hand, not every non-nominal scenario can be anticipated and correctly formulated in terms of operations. Dealing with contingency presents risks which need to be addressed as early as possible, hopefully already during the operations preparation. It is also possible, however, to intervene at a later operational stage of the mission, optimising the tools already in use to support the operations execution. In this paper, having in mind the idea to improve existing processes in place at EUMETSAT, we present an algorithm able to reschedule the spacecraft's activities in case of anomaly. The main goal is to support the decision-making process while overcoming contingencies both avoiding overloading the spacecraft and planning engineers and ensuring the continuity of the mission, in particular giving the highest priority to the onboard computer memory size and data quality. We tested the method with the data of Sentinel-6, which carries the altimeter POSEIDON-4 operated by EUMETSAT, and the results are hereby presented.