Trends in the Control and Monitoring of Future European Satellites

Abstract

Current and future programmes of the European Space Agency (ESA) consist of relatively few missions but widely diversified in nature. The control and monitoring operations can be performed using either a specialized common band or the different payload frequency bands as assigned to each mission. The trade-off is discussed in the paper and considerations for the choice of the most suitable band presented. Some features of the preferred approach both for the ground and the space segments are illustrated as well.