Columbus Operations Challenges

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Columbus Operations Challenges

• Dr. Joachim Kehr
• Head of DLR Columbus Project Office
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)

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• 31 Institutes at
• 8 Sites
• 6 Off-site Locations

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Köln Astronaut Training Center
Oberpfaffenhofen German Space Operations Center
Weilheim Ground Stations
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
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DLR Space Operations (RB)
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Columbus-Operations
International Space Station
Astronaut Training (EAC-Team)
Satellite Operations
Sounding Rockets (MORABA)
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IntroductionThe Columbus-CC will be
responsible for
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• System Control
• European Payload Coordination
• Communications

ESA Council decision on 16.December 98
allocated the COL-CC to DLR Oberpfaffenhofen
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

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Challenge-1Minimization of Manpower
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• Flight Control
• - 16hr Operations
• - Automation of operations tasks
• Gound Control
• - Multi-Mission Operations
• - Automation of network and facility operations
  through hierarchical systems
• Maintenance
• - Combination of inhouse and vendor
  responsibility

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Challenge-2Communications
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• Global Communications (voice, video, data up to
  32 Mbit) for a highly decentralized system with
  different cultures
• - Protocol conversion / standardization
• - Outsourcing of communication services for
  flexibility and reliability / security
• - Combination of ATM and ISDN lines
• - Centralised remote control of all external
  interface entities

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Challenge-3Generation Problem
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• Know-how transfer electronically / on-line
• Maintenance of a Training unit (TQVS) throughout
  the project

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Challenge-4Delays
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• Plan
• Maintenance of Core teams (Flight and Ground)
• Interim Utilization using existing On-board
  facilities
• Experimentation campaigns using Soyuz flights
• (April 05, October 05)
• Utilization of two successive Soyuz flights to
  establish increment operations
• ATV-CC communications support

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Challenge-4 (cont.) Delays
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.

• Consequences
• Use the flexibility of the Core team combined
  with GSOC multi-mission aspects
• Custom tailor Maintenance effort
• 24 hr operations vs business day maintenance
• Custom tailor Communications
• Use service provider flexibility w.r.t.
• - adaptation of comms profile
• - adaptation of Service level agreement
  conditions

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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
The means people use to gain insights in matters
of space seem for me almost as astonishing as the
matters themselves.
Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)