Software complex of automatic spacecraft flight planning

Аuthors

Zhigastova O. K.^*, Pokuchaev V. N.

Central Research Institute of Machine Building, 4, Pionerskaya st., Korolev, Moscow region, 141070, Russia

*e-mail: inolga-ok@yandex.ru

Abstract

Purpose

This article discusses software complex of flight planning of unmanned automatic spacecrafts. Complex was developed based on methodology of automatic flight planning [1] describing the procedure of automatic variant of flight plan making and its verification using simulation model of Onboard Control Complex (OCC) [5].

Design/methodology/approach

Discussing way of software complex design includes formulation of complex creation problem, development of requirements and formulation of solving problems, structure definition and procedure of structure elements interaction. The main tasks solving by software complex are:

1. Automatic flight plan creation;
2. Automatic flight plan checking;
3. Transformation of flight plan into different views using during the plan realization by space system elements including spacecraft and Ground Automatic Control Complex (GACC).

In accordance with the problems being solved the software complex has been divided into four parts.

The first part of complex solves problems of general and daily flight plans. They contain data on the spatiotemporal spacecraft state, on executing control operations, spacecraft hardware modes and facilities of GACC, and other information related to the management of spacecraft.

In the second part of the complex the checking for the presence of a flight plan errors and the possibility of implementing systems and devices spacecraft is performed. To do this, the complex includes a simulation model of OOC, which helps in modeling work of OOC of spacecraft when the flight plan is executing.

In the third part of the complex it is prepared the plans for private systems and devices of spacecraft and GACC facilities ensuring the implementation of the flight plan.

The fourth part of the planning complex ensures the organization and management of data generated as a result of the first three parts. To do this database and developed database administration software is used. The proposed structure of the software system proved its functionality and allowed to take into account all the features of the phase of drawing up a flight plan implemented over an extended period of time.

Findings

The task of creating software complex automated flight planning of unmanned spacecraft allowed to formulate requirements and complex tasks, build a structure that meets the characteristics of procedures for the creation of the flight plan. In the result of this work a software complex that allows to solve the problem of the automated task of plan creation and its automated verification has been developed.

Due to created complex it is possible to simplify the procedure for flight planning, reduce the number of mistakes made by the specialist in the preparation of the plan, to make it more visible and comprehensible. Created software complex was introduced into practice management and used in the Mission Control Center (MCC) to manage automatic spacecraft of scientific and socio-economic purpose.

Research limitations/implications

Proposed automated flight planning software complex can be applied in the management of automatic spacecraft of scientific and socio-economic purpose flights.

Originality/value

1. Modern development level of technology automatic spacecraft control shows that the «manual» method of forming a flight plan becomes ineffective, and in most cases — impossible without the use of automation.
2. Feature of flight preparation procedure is that the plan is formed in several stages successive approximation for 2-week, daily and circuit intervals. Therefore, when planning in automated way it is necessary to consider the possibility of plan correction at any stage of planning.
3. Developed software complex for flight planning of automatic spacecraft has a modular structure, it provides a solution to problems of the automated preparation of the plan and its validation using a simulation model of the OCC. It also provides visibility into the process of the plan forming and plan correction by the operator, complies with the requirements of universality, so it can be used for different spacecrafts.
4. Due to created software complex it is possible to reduce the complexity of the planning, to reduce execution time from 1.5 days to 40 minutes, to improve the quality and efficiency of flight plan creating, to reduce the number of errors related to the human factor. Thus, in contrast to the «manual» method of making a flight plan, which requires the involvement of several specialists management group for the automated preparation method it requires only one person.
5. Software complex of automatic spacecraft flight planning was introduced at MCC and was used to control the flight of automatic spacecrafts of scientific and socio-economic purpose.

Keywords:

spacecraft, space system, special software, program module, database

References

1. Zhigastova О.К., Pochukaev V.N. Vestnik Moskovskogo aviatsionnogo instituta, 2012, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 97-103.
2. Zhigastova О.К., Pochukaev V.N. Elektronnyi zhurnal «Trudy MAI», 2011, no. 49, available at: http://www.mai.ru/science/trudy/published.php?ID=28296 (accessed 27.12.2011).
3. Zhigastova О.К., Pochukaev V.N. Elektronnyi zhurnal «Trudy MAI», 2011, no. 49, available at: http://www.mai.ru/science/trudy/published.php?ID=28206 (accessed 27.12.2011).
4. Zhigastova О.К., Pochukaev V.N. Vestnik Moskovskogo aviatsionnogo instituta, 2012, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 21-31.
5. Zhigastova О.К., Pochukaev V.N. Vestnik Moskovskogo aviatsionnogo instituta, 2013, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 34-43.