PC-BASED TELEMETRY AND COMMAND FRONT-END FOR A DISTRIBUTED SATELLITE CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract

Satellite Control Systems require a front-end component which performs real-time telemetry acquisition and command output. This paper will describe a fully networked, PC-based telemetry and command front-end which supports multiple streams and is based on Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology. The front-end system is a gateway that accepts multiple telemetry streams and outputs time-tagged frame or packet data over a network to workstations in a distributed satellite control and analysis system. The system also includes a command gateway that accepts input from a command processor and outputs serial commands to the uplink. The front-end can be controlled locally or remotely via the network using Simple Network Management Protocol. Key elements of the front-end system are the Avtec MONARCH-E™ PCI-based CCSDS/TDM Telemetry Processor/Simulator board, a network-based, distributed computing architecture, and the Windows NT operating system. The PC-based telemetry and command gateway is useful throughout the lifecycle of a satellite system. During development, integration, and test, the front-end system can be used as a test tool in a distributed test environment. During operations, the system is installed at remote ground stations, with network links back to operations center(s) for telemetry and command processing and analysis.