Software Architecture Design of Distributed Satellite Systems Test Bed

Abstract

CONAE is currently investigating multi-static Earth Observation from Formation Flying Distributed Satellite Systems. The design, verification, testing and integration of satellite formation-flying technology pose, nonetheless, stringent challenges to achieve mission success. From a Systems Engineering standpoint, we provide a software architecture enabling a user to develop and ground validate flight software and hardware using a model-based design philosophy. This philosophy is supported by an Object-Oriented Design methodology, amply used nowadays to model and manage the software complexity of Space Systems. We first introduce the concept of Distributed Satellite Systems, their interest in Earth Observation and the main functional blocks of a test bed laboratory. After stating the fundamental principles of Object-Oriented Design, we apply them to the design of the simulation environment software architecture. A use case of an Autonomous Formation-Flying control algorithm is introduced as a guide for the usage of the proposed software Framework. We conclude with a brief description of ongoing work towards implementing a hardware in the loop test bed laboratory.