SANSA Space Operations: History, Services and applications of satellite technologyE Avenant

24 February 2016

History of Hartebeeshoek(HBK) Tracking station

Sputnik 1- 1957

The Satellite Applications Centre had its origin in 1958, when the National TelecommunicationsResearch Laboratory (TRL) of the CSIR agreed to operate and maintain a Minitrack station on behalfof the American Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in South Africa. South Africa was strategicallysituated relative to the launch facilities in Cape Canaveral, and would give early confirmation that asatellite launched from Cape Canaveral was indeed in orbit.

1958: Minitrack establish at Esselen park

The Minitrack system was installed with the help of engineers from the Naval Research Laboratoriesand became operational in January 1958. It is history that the Soviet Union launched SPUTNIK 1 inOctober 1957. The Joburg Minitrack Station - as it was known - tracked its first Project Vanguardsatellite, code named 1958 Beta, in February 1958. Although the emphasis was on determining theposition of the first satellites accurately, this soon became of secondary importance as moresophisticated instruments were placed in orbit to measure a host of physical and geo-physicalphenomena. To receive telemetry data from instrumented satellites soon became the primaryfunction of the Minitrack Network - including the "Joburg Minitrack Station".

1958: Project Vanguerd Satellite tracked by NITR

In 1960 operations were transferred from Esselen Park to Hartebeesthoek, and the Joburg SatelliteTracking and Data Acquisition Network Station (JOBURG STADAN) was born. This became one of thebusiest network stations in the GSFC satellite tracking telemetry and command (TT&C) network. Itwas eventually equipped with three receiving links at 136 Mhz and later S band and two powerfulVHF transmitting systems.

1960: Minitrack moved to Hartebeeshoek

To meet these new needs, a number of fundamental changes were made to the Minitrack network.

• Site changes, closures and additions• Adding larger 12 meter and 26 meter dishes at some sites• Adding the Goddard Range and Range Rate tracking equipment (GRARR)• Adding new automatic tracking telemetry and command antennas (SATAN)• Larger and more automated ground communication links between stations

The resulting network was called the Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network, or STADAN.

STADAN

1960 the start of a Minitrack station moving towards a STADAN

SATAN

During the 15 year as part of the GSFC network “JOBURG STADAN” received more than 8 millionminutes of data, tracked 400 000 satellite passes and supported over 250 NASA launches.

1961-1975 Supported NASA missions

In 1963 a 12m hydraulic X/Y mounted parabolic antenna was installed with 400 MHz and 136 MHzreception and mono-pulse tracking capabilities. Shortly afterwards “S” band reception and trackingcapabilities were added. Two 5 kW 148 MHz transmitters were added each having its own antenna.At the same time, two hydraulically driven X/Y mounted arrays were installed. During this time a newbuilding was erected and all telemetry equipment and activities transferred. A sophisticated tripleredundant timing system was installed and later the first PCM data handling equipment, and digitalcommand encoder.

1963: 12M Antenna established

1963 First parabolic antenna UHF/VHF feed

NASA ceased operations in South Africa at the end of October 1975. The CSIR then used theremaining equipment and a core group of personnel to establish the Satellite Remote Sensing Centre(SRSC) in 1976 for reception of geo-information from satellites.

1975: NASA terminates activities.

• 1961 - 1975: Support of NASA missions• 1975: NASA terminates activities• 1976 CSIR takes control• South Africa move towards Earth Observation data• Meteosat• Landsat MSS• Noaa data• Spot 2• CNES Partnership

History continues

Meteosat imagery 1977

Landsat MSS (Multispectral Scanner) The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) sensor acquired imagery of the earth from July 1972 to January 1999 on board Landsats 1 through 5.

SINCE 1984

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

1983: Part of CNES network S Band

• New building • New LSX antenna• South Africa starts to see the value in remote sensing• More launch supports for the French Ariane 4 program

1988 SRSC Satellite Remote Sensing Centre

CSIR and Boeing venture into KU/DBS and Ka band Space Operations

1998- 2002 leap into the Space Operations

• 1998: Ku/DBS band capability• 1999: SA first satellite• 2002: Ka-band capability ( first ever Toss)• 2003: MODIS and NOAA upgrade• 2004: 5.4m X band antenna• 2006: SPOT-5 direct reception• 2010: 7.3m X band• 2010: SumbandilaSat SA second satellite• 2010: Established Mission control for Sumbandilasat• 2010 Established Orbcomm facility• 2011 Established Ksat facility• 2012 New Skytrax facility • 2012 Established new C Band facility for Intelsat• 2013 Established a new IOT facility for SANSA

Space Operations History

Demand for Earth Observation Data requires more antenna 2004- 2007

Space Operations gets more antennas

Service offerings at Hartebeeshoek

SANSA has four directorates:

• SANSA Space Science (Hermanus)• SANSA Space Operations (Hartebeesthoek)• SANSA Earth Observation (Pretoria)• SANSA Space Engineering (Pretoria)

National Geo-space Laboratory & Research Platform

• Wide geographic instrument network• Wide instrument variety• Extensive data stock & distribution network• Continuous monitoring of space from the ground

Research, Development & Applications

• Space Environment Research• Model development and simulations• Space weather • GIC research• Antarctic space physics• Extensive collaboration in Africa and overseas• Magnetic technology development

Product & Service Offerings

• Magnetic Technology Support• Compass calibrations and ground navigation support• Space weather provision• Magnetic Field modelling

Space Science Programme

Sensor Portfolio Management• Archive dating back to 1972 • Spot 4,5 & 6; Landsat 5,7 & 8; Modis• Distributor Portfolio: Digital Globe; GeoEye; Terrsar X

SAR; Tandem X SAR• Direct reception: Spot 5,6 & 7; Landsat 7 & 8; Modis,

CBERS-4 (2015)Data management• Support the SAEOS• Data acquisition, processing & archiving• Data distribution to public entities (multi-user

licensing)• Support the GEO, GEOSS, CEOS & AfricaGeospatial informatics• Land-Cover Applications: vegetation; agriculture;

water; soil; • Land-Use Applications: settlements; urban mapping;

planning; performance monitoring; mining• Health, Safety & Security: Disaster management,

national security

Earth Observation Programme

ARMC • South Africa• Nigeria• Kenya• Algeria

RSA: ZA-EOSAT-1• Optical• Operational• Addressing subsection of user requirement

Previous satellites:• Sunsat• Sumbandilasat• TsepisoSat

Space Program Division

SANSA Space Operations

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

Ground station background • 52 years in the business, reputation as top quality TT&C service

provider• Over 422 supported since 1984• Frequency Bands: L, S, Ext C, C, X, Ku, DBS and Ka,• 7 full motion TT&C antennas, 4 Remote Sensing systems• 24 x 7 operations• Dedicated Ku-band IOT antenna • Dedicated IOT test facility• Earth station verification

Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) services

• Launch support• Transfer-orbit support• In-orbit testing• Lifecycle support• Emergency support• Carrier monitoring• Antenna verification• Hosted infrastructure• Mission control• Remote sensing TM reception

Value chain: TOSS, IOT & hosting services

Launch vehicle support

LEOP and TOSS

SupportIOT Support Routine

Operations Hosting End of life De-orbiting

• Lift off to separation

• Position the satellite safely in the correct orbit

• Critical operation

• LEOP: from satellite separating (from the launch vehicle) until satellite is safely positioned in its nominal orbit

• Critical operation

• IOT campaign measures the accuracy and stability of the satellite

• Assessing the quality of the signals

• Results gathered will set a benchmark throughout the satellites’ operational life

• Monitoring TM (currents, voltages, temperatures, status data, etc.) measured by on-board instruments

• Daily supports• Normal

operations• 24x7

• Hosting of space related infrastructure

• Providing maintenance to third party assist

• On-call support for emergency maintenance

• Manoeuvre satellite from normal position to de-orbit phase

• The satellite needs to burn out or send to graveyard orbit

• Critical operation

SANSA Space Operations – Vision, Mission & Strategy

SANSA as a whole – Vision , Mission & Strategy

Make sure each and every Value Add is accounted for

TT&C Support 2014

Telemetry Tracking and Command

SANSA Space Operations:• Hosts ground station for TT&C and data download• Responsible for Mission Control• Establishing an S/X system dedicated to (ZA-EOSAT-1)• Drives Space-Ground interface in definition phase• Suited to download data from other satellites in the regional constellation

Regional offerings: ARMC

Satellite Navigation

EU – SA Space DialogueAFSAGA ESESA EGSA

2011

SATSA

2007 2008 2012 20132009 2010 2014 2015

• January 2009 Initial EU-SA Space Dialogue South Africa• February 2010 – Nov 2011 ESESA • July 2010 Joint Program Office, SANSA Establishment• February 2012 – September 2013 SATSA • Joint Statement signed by EC VP Tajani and RSA Minister Naledi Pandor 21-3-2012• July 2012 EU-SA Space Dialogue meeting: Task force established• January 2013 Task Force Document• February 2013 GLUG workshop• September 2013 SATSA Final Dissemination event• January 2014 Conclusion of GNSS contribution to EU-SA Dialogue• April 2015: SBAS Africa

SAFIR

Possible SBAS-Africa EvolutionPhase Description Schedule

0 12-month UKSA-funded SBAS-Africa project Apr 2015 – Mar 2016

1 24-month extension with live signal-in-space (SIS) Apr 2016 – Mar 2018

2 SBAS L1-only OS in RSA Apr 2018 – Mar 2020/2022

3 SBAS L1/L5 OS in RSA + SADC Apr 2020 – Mar 2025

4 potential SBAS L1/L5 OS and SoL service in SADC Apr 2025 - onwards

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

ph0: SBAS AFRICA

ph1: 24-mth EXT

ph2: RSA SBAS OS

2021 2022-onwards

ph3: SADC SBAS OS

Ph1 RSA extension decision

Ph2 RSA OS decision

Ph3 SADC OS decision

Infrastructure

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Geographic area

39

• Be ready to support requests from public and private sectorto use expertise to address issues pertaining to satellitesystems

• Examples:– Sacommsat study– Space debris re-entry

Regional offerings: Ad-hoc

IMPACT

• Re-purpose SumbandilaSat ground infrastructure for tracking Cube-Sats• Initial mission: CPUT CubeSat-1• Become part of international network• Provide training internally to Operations Technician interns and externally to tertiary

students

Regional offerings: Cube-Sats

• Internal SANSA Earth Observation SANSA Space Science Project office

• National: Navigation Communication DOD DST DTI DOT

SA CAA PRASA SAMSA

ATNS Denel

Internal & National Stakeholders

• Internship Programme Operations Technicians

• Science Advancement Man in the making CellC Take a Girl Child to Work

• Science Awareness Science festivals and exhibitions School/Learner Programmes

• Guest Speaker (Gladys Magagula) Women in Engineering Conference Women in STEM Convention

• Community awareness School donations

Outreach initiatives

Application of Satellite technology

• NOISE vs SIGNAL vs INTERFERENCE• Antenna/Telescope• Wavelength/Frequency• Orbits and Applications• System block diagram• Modes and states• LEOP, IOT and ESVA activties

Applications of satellite technology

Application

Orbit CommunicationEarth Observation Navigation

Search and Rescue Science Astronomy

LEO(100 -1000km)MEO (1000-30000km)GEO(36000km)

L1-L5Other(Earth or Sun orbiting)

Orbits and Applications

Communication Earth Observation Navigation/Positioning/Timing Search and Rescue Science Astronomy

LEO Orbocmm Spot DORIS

COSPAR SARSAT: NOAA,METOP GRACE HUBBLE

Iridium Landsat Satellite ADS-B SORCENOAA Satellite AIS OCO Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

NROLL Swift Gamma Ray Burst ExplorerSumbandilasat AGILEZA EOSAT 1 AstrosatARMC NuSTARMETOP

MEO Polar GPS GALILEOGLONASSBEIDOUGalileoGAGANQZSS

GEO Intelsat GOES WAAS GOESEutelsat INSAT EGNOS INSATSES Astra MSG GAGAN MSGData comms QZSSTelephonyDTHVSAT GSM Backhaul

L1-L5 DSCVR SOHO Herschel Space ObservatorySTEREO (L4,L5) Planck

Other THEMIS SpektrXMM-NewtonSpitzer Space Telescope

Orbits and Applications: Examples

Front –End detail

TLT

TWTA

TWTA

Mode Launcher

E1

LNA 4

LNA 3

LNA 5

LNA 1

LNA 2

E1E1

TransmitRejectFilter

TransmitRejectFilter

CombinerNetwork

PowerSplitter

TurnstileOMT

Power Splitter

20-30 Ghz Diplexer

20-30 Ghz Diplexer

Coupler

CouplerCoupler

Coupler

Coupler

CouplerCoupler

Coupler

50dB

50dB

10dB

10dB

40dB

40dB

40dB

40dB

LHCP/H

RHCP/V

trackingcoupler

90 deg Polarizer

Sub-systems Major ComponentsAntenna unit Main Reflector

Sub-ReflectorMechanical structureFeed housing

Transmitter TWTA unitsReceiver Telemetry Downconverter

Tracking DownconverterRF Feed Polarisation selection

Redundancy switchingFeed hornLNAs

GPS Unit GPS ReceiversSwitch-over unitDistribution Amplifier

Monitoring and Control Local unitEquipment Interface unitFibre Optic linkRemote unit

Antenna Control Antenna Control UnitAntenna drive cabinetLocal control unitReference OscillatorDual speed resolversDC Motors (permanent magnet)

Electrical Furnishings Antenna lighting protectionEquipment groundingCablingAir-conditionerWaveguide pressuriser

Acquisition Aid ParabolaLNB

Main components and modesOFF

START-UP

STANDBY

ACQUISITION

TRACK

Step-track Monopulse (Autotrack)

Memory Track Program Track

Command Position Manual Rate Scan

STOW

Az/El track Intelsat NORAD (4 models)

Augmented Steptrack

Star Track

Smart Track Augmented Autotrack

Augmented Scan

Polynomial TrackGeo Scan

Autophase

Antenna sighting considerations

• Pre-launch dataflows in order to verify compatibility of groundstation to mission

• Tracking of Spacecraft providing time stamped antenna pointing information to satellite operator

• Ranging to spacecraft: Providing time stamped distance information from the groundstation to the spacecraft

• Commanding: Relaying commands to spacecraft from ground network, see diagram

• Telemetry: Receiving spacecraft telemetry from the spacecraft for relay to the ground network.

LEOP Activities

Transfer orbit support

ELSCC: 7th MISSION

W2A-LEOP Mission_YT_V1.0_13/03/2009restrictedrestricted to to eutelsateutelsat internalinternal use use onlyonly

W2A LEOP MISSION MAIN EVENTS

Geo-Transfer OrbitAltitude Perigee 5 010 km i = 20.7°

Period = 11.9 h

intermediate Orbit 1Perigee altitude 14 200 km i = 8.3°

Period = 15.3 h

intermediate Orbit 2Perigee altitude 31 500 km i = 0.9°

Period = 22.1 h

W2A Drift near to Geostationary orbit

until arrival at theIOT longitude 1.7° E

Drift & fine StationAcquisition Manoeuvres

BAPTA switch-on

Final Earth Acquisition

Wheel Run-up

Solar ArraysTotal Deployment

Sun Pointing

Apogee Boost Attitude

GyroCalibration

Solar Array Partial

Deployment (To+2h30)

1st Sun Acquisition

CPS Venting

Proton-M/ Breeze-M LIFT-OFF at 16:27 UT (To)

Monday 30 March 2009 (DAY 0)W2A Separation at To+ 9 h 10mn

LDR & West Reflectors

Deployment

SUN

1st Apogee Engine Firing, at Apogee 22nd Apogee Engine Firing, at Apogee 43rd Apogee Engine Firing, at Apogee 6

W2A mass = 5 922 kg at launch

(DAY 1)

(DAY 6)

(DAY 8 - 9)

(DAY 6)

W2A

(DAY 2)

POSITIONING SEQUENCE: AS PLANNED

AEF 3

AEF 2

AEF 1

1st Telemetry receptionat separation time of W2A

(To+ 9h 10 mn)via Fucino (I) and Pretoria (S.A.)

(DAY 3)

(DAY 5)

(DAY 9)

(DAY 6)

(DAY 6)

Eclipse zone

698 m/s 145 mn

620 m/s 104 mn

96 m/s 14 mn

• Test all subsystems on the spacecraft• Verify transponder characteristics• Verify satellite power handling capabilities• Map antenna footprints from the spacecraft

IOT Activities

ESVAAntenna

Verification

South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

SANSA (@SANSA7)

South African National Space Agency (SASpaceAgency)

www.sansa.org.za