Developing Responsive and Agile Space Systems - Space-Library

A Flexible Satellite Command
and Control Framework
A standard communications infrastructure and shared
services allow for rapid receiving and publishing of
mission information using common message and data
standards, thus enabling situational awareness along
with reduced operation and maintenance costs.
Thomas Sullivan, Donald Sather, and Ronald Nishinaga
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems
Center (SMC) Satellite Control
and Network Systems Group has been
exploring concepts for future satellite command
and control implementations. The studies
have examined how to apply advances in
information technology to improve interoperability,
responsiveness, and economy. From these
studies, a vision has emerged for an extensible
or “compatible” framework that is beginning to
shape the future direction of satellite command
and control procurement and concepts of operation
within SMC.
A framework can be defined as a common
system (hardware and software) architecture
that a given enterprise is built upon. It selectively
constrains the design of the enterprise
overall and the individual elements or missions
within it. A framework can be created
as a service-oriented, netcentric, bus-based, or
object-oriented architecture, or any combination
of these. One advantage of the framework
approach for command and control is that it
accommodates a flexible ground infrastructure
to support rapid deployment of space assets for
tactical space missions. Not surprisingly, the
DOD Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)
Office has been investigating how such an approach
could be used to meet responsive space
requirements.
24 • Crosslink Summer 2009