European Space Information Technology Workshop

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European Space Information Technology Workshop

• Michel CASTELLANET
• Alcatel Space
• Darmstadt - 27 September 2000

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Space systems programs

• Large international cooperation
• science observation
• telecommunications
• Work sharing for projects
• spread out in Europe
• and all over the world
• Using different methods and tools
• optimized process for each company
• tools usually specialized by discipline
• Huge number of IT tools used

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Example of system chain at Alcatel Space
Missions Analysis
CAD Catia, Mentor
Acoustic Vibration
Propulsion
Finite Elements Lagrange, Hdiv, Hrot, ...
Electrical Circuits Simulation
Modelling
Optics
CAD Model Meshwork
Finite Diff.
AOCS
Finite Volumes
EMC
Structure
Finite Elements
Radiations
RF Antennae
Materials
Thermal Control
As applicable, Inter-Domain Couplings and/or
Optimisation
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Software Categories

• Toolboxes / Developments
• Structures
• Thermal Control
• In-Orbit Missions
• Optics
• Radar Watch
• Antennae
• Electromagnetism
• Telecoms Systems
• Radiations
• Networks Systems Simulations
• Hyperfrequencies
• Switching Matrices
• Dependability

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Where IT is deeply changing the way of working
for space programs

• Modeling / calculation (present)
• well adapted tools to obtain best performances of
  space systems
• integration between disciplines
• Databases (present / future)
• no more paper based information
• smooth workflow for the complete life cycle of
  space products
• intelligent technologies
• Co-operations (present / future)
• extended enterprise concept
• to reduce costs delays
• to improve quality

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Co-operation process evolution

• Data standards
• wide variety of tools used among partners
• -gt need to improve data exchanges for space
  industry
• Internet based
• more and more data exchanges with internet
• necessity to structure these exchanges
• Collaborative working
• cooperative working space improving
  multi-enterprise integrated team
• collaborative working methods
• collaborative working tools

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Suggestion to improve co-operation process (1)

• Exchange standards
• with wide variety of computer tools used
• ISO / STEP standardization effort
• European space Industry in pole position
• ESA work on STEP
• ECSS working group (ECSS E-10-07)
• CNES ALCATEL works on STEP / ISO
• Well defined exchange process
• data packages based exchanges for space project
• standard way of working for satellites at the
  present (paper based)
• -gt define modern IT structures for exchanging
  data packages
• Data structures
• database with STEP structures ISO STEP / AP232
• Baghera Exchange (CNES / ALCATEL SPACE initiative)

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Suggestion to improve co-operation process (2)

• Technical distributed teams
• Cooperation and sharing tools
• seeing each other,
• hearing and talking to each other,
• sharing software,
• sketching on documents.
• accessing to engineering software
• accessing to satellite engineering data base
• visualization of results
• Ex ENSCUBE
• a set of such tools for SMEs / subcontractors
  and big companies cooperation

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Collaborative Working
Main contractor
DB
Hardwares
Softwares
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New Standardised Exchange Portal

• CNES opens today an Exchange Portal
• to exchange data/document
• with clients/partners
• based on STEP AP232
• generated by Baghera Exchange tool (CNES/ALCATEL
  SPACE)
• http//baghera-exchange.cnes.fr

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JPL/NASA interest

• European experience recognized by NASA and other
  american companies
• Invited by NASA/JPL at the STEP Meeting organized
  at JPL-Pasadena to present European STEP
  expertise
• STEP-TAS
• Baghera-Exchange and STEP AP-232
• Active participation to ISO Meeting
• Possible leading action for European space
  industry
• Partnership between Europe and USA to work
  together on standard
• Pilot projects ISS, MSR, ...

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Suggestion for network aspects

• Network capabilities
• limitation of internet network for co-operative
  process
• cost of broadband international connections
• heavy process between operators to create these
  connections
• Satellite solution for European partners
• broadband connections (2Mb/s)
• cheap international connections
• flexibility / short delay to install
• How to improve the networks
• complement to the ground Internet connections
• dedicated new satellite network for space
  activities
• using cheap ground terminals
• close the loop for space industry

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Example of possible scenarios to add satellite
technology to ground internet

• Database broadband sharing data diffusion
• shared database access
• data diffusion mode (multicast)
• asymmetric one way satellite connection (ground
  return)
• very cheap ground terminal (DVB/IP)
• IP smooth integration
• IP high interactive
• IP visio-conferences
• high interactive applications (unicast/multicast)
• different network possibilities
• one way (with powerful ground return)
• two way meshed satellite network
• two way star satellite network
• LEO broadband mesh (future)

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Conclusions

• Co-operation process for space systems is a key
  issue
• for large international programs
• to reduce cost/delays
• to improve quality
• European Space actors have the opportunity
• to structure method data for exchanges
• to use efficient data structures and tools based
  on standard for cooperative activities
• to define and build a European telecommunication
  satellite network with Internet integration for
  space projects
• US agency may be interested
• to follow European actors ( ex standardization
  actions )
• to help in using European method with US partners