Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE)

The EGSE includes all the hardware and software necessary to support integration and testing of the Satellite.

To accomplish the above, it provides the following functions and services:

• Telecommand sending and telemetry acquisition;
• Data processing, archiving and retrieval;
• Data base management;
• Power supply and eclipse simulation;
• On-board computer access;
• Satellite Dynamic simulation;
• Flight hardware emulation;
• Flight stimuli;
• Man - Machine dialogue

The EGSE is based on a centralized architecture and includes the following major components:

Master test processor (MTP)

This is the control center of the EGSE in charge of the supervision and control of the Satellite and the coordination and control of the whole EGSE. It includes:

• Master test processor;
• Telemetry telecommand front end equipment;
• Test conductor consoles.

AOCS/OBDH Checkout Equipment (A&D COE)

This is a computer system processing node for testing the Attitude and Orbit Control subsystem and the On Board Data Handling Subsystem, through specific Front End Crates (FECs)

Power Distribution/power Generation Special Checkout Equipment (PD/PG SCOE)

This provides power to the Satellite simulating its various operative conditions (eclipse, sunlight, Satellite connected to the launcher).

Telemetry Tracking and Command Special Checkout Equipment (TT&C SCOE)

This allows measurement of telemetry and telecommand RF signal characteristics.

On Board Computer Adapter Special Checkout Equipment (OBCA SCOE)

This allows fast on-board software loading/dumping and display/modification of the on-board memory contents.

Payload Special Checkout Equipment (P/L SCOE)

This equipment is for testing either individual Science Instruments or the complete Payload, and to monitor the execution of the Payload Operation Plans.

Local Area Network (LAN)

This allows data communication between the various equipments of the EGSE.

Software

Three main software categories reside in the EGSE

• Base Software
  Which is the computer base SW and not specific to the check-out task.
• Service Software
  Which is the EGSE special purpose service SW that allows process control and the Satellite check-out to be operated.
• Application Software
  Which is developed by the System integrator and is the SAX integration and testing software.

This file was last modified on Wednesday, 09-Sep-1998 13:39:16 CEST by Mauro Orlandini