Mission control for the 48-satellite Globalstar constellation

Abstract

The Globalstar system is being developed by Globalstar, Limited Partners, with 48 satellites in low Earth orbit that will create a world-wide mobile communications system consistent with Vice President Gore's vision of a Global Information Infrastructure. Globalstar provides an excellent opportunity to explore innovative solutions for highly efficient satellite command and control. Design and operational concepts being developed are unencumbered by existing physical and organizational infrastructures. This program really is "starting with a clean sheet of paper". Globalstar operations challenges can appear enormous. Clearly, assigning even a single person around the clock to monitor and control each satellite is excessive for Globalstar (it would require a staff of 200). Even with only a single contact per orbit per satellite, data acquisitions will start or stop every 45 seconds. Although essentially identical, over time the satellites will develop their own "personalities" and will require different data calibrations and levels of support. This paper discusses the Globalstar system and challenges as well as presents engineering concepts, system design decisions, and operations concepts which address the combined needs and concerns of satellite, ground system, and operations teams. Lessons from past missions have been applied, organizational barriers broken, partnerships formed across the mission segments, and new operations concepts developed for satellite constellation man…