Space Operations: Exploration, Scientific Utilization, and Technology Development

Space operations professionals never stop learning. Space Operations: Exploration, Scientific Utilization, and Technology Development fosters technical interaction regarding all aspects of space mission operations and ground data systems. This volume contains papers delivered at the biennal conference sponsored by SpaceOps, the international organization that promotes managerial and technical interchange between space agencies, academia, and industry. principles, methods, and tools.

At the eleventh SpaceOps conference in April 2010, hosted by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Hunstville, Alabama, a total of 380 papers were presented and discussed in 98 technical sessions. The 31 papers reviewed and enhanced for publication in this book were selected for their quality and their relevance to the space operations community. The selected papers represent a cross section of three main subject areas:

• Mission Management – management tasks for designing, preparing, and operating a particular mission
• Spacecraft Operations – preparation and implementation of all activities to operate a space vehicle (manned and unmanned) under all conditions
• Ground Operations – preparation, qualification, and operation of a mission-dedicated ground segment and appropriate infrastructure, including antennas and control centers as well as communication means and interfaces