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Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data, containing observations similar to expected flight data, with the correct volumes and structures. This data will be generated on an ongoing basis, over periods of months, to test the entire ground data processing system. Such a simulation has been proven to increase the success of the mission by exposing problems well in advance of launch. It can also be used to test alternative processing approaches.

Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

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Page 1: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation

• A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations

• This requires the ability to produce realistic data, containing observations similar to expected flight data, with the correct volumes and structures.

• This data will be generated on an ongoing basis, over periods of months, to test the entire ground data processing system.

• Such a simulation has been proven to increase the success of the mission by exposing problems well in advance of launch.

• It can also be used to test alternative processing approaches.

Page 2: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

SeaWiFS Heritage

• The SeaWiFS Project developed a realistic data simulation based on CZCS data and the sensor operations scenario.

• The simulation was configured to run daily, starting from a simulated orbit and sensor command schedule, through end-to-end processing of the data with the production system.

• This mission simulation was run continuously for 18 months prior to the SeaWiFS launch, uncovering many bugs and allowing major refinements in the processing system.

• As a result, SeaWiFS was able to produce scientifically credible data products from the very first sensor observations on September 4, 1997.

Page 3: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Mission Simulation Requirements

• A useful mission simulation requires:– Simulating sensor output starting from realistic

geophysical values with sufficient fidelity to exercise “all” logical paths in the data processing algorithms

– Simulating sensor downlink data in the correct format and the expected data rates and volumes

– Simulating realistic data collection scenarios– Use of operational data processing software and

formats– Use of actual ancillary data sets wherever possible– Ability to generate one day of data per day.

Page 4: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Mission Simulation Requirements (cont.)

• It does not necessarily require:– Simulating every aspect of the data path (e.g.,

surface-to-instrument, sensor operation) with maximum possible fidelity

– Simulating 100% of the sensor output (e.g., housekeeping telemetry not required by science algorithms) or dynamics

– Ability to incorporate anomalous behavior

Page 5: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

Salinity Map

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Page 6: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

Salinity Map

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Data CollectionScheduler Downlink

Schedule

Page 7: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

SurfaceMeasurements

Salinity Map

AncillaryData

Sensor Geometry& Timing

RadiativeTransferModel

SensorMeasurements

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Data CollectionScheduler Downlink

Schedule

Page 8: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

SurfaceMeasurements

SensorTelemetry

SensorOutput

DN

Salinity Map

AncillaryData

Sensor Geometry& Timing

InstrumentModel

RadiativeTransferModel

Data CollectionScheduler Downlink

Schedule

SensorMeasurements

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Page 9: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

SurfaceMeasurements

SensorTelemetry

SensorOutput

DN

Salinity Map

AncillaryData

Sensor Geometry& Timing

InstrumentModel

RadiativeTransferModel

Data CollectionScheduler

ICDS Simulator

Sensor Memory

Simulator

ScienceBlocks

DownlinkSchedule

SensorMemory

SensorMeasurements

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Page 10: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

SurfaceMeasurements

SensorTelemetry

SensorOutput

DN

Salinity Map

AncillaryData

Sensor Geometry& Timing

InstrumentModel

RadiativeTransferModel

ICDS Simulator

Sensor Memory

Simulator

ScienceBlocks

SensorMemory

SensorMeasurements

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

Data CollectionScheduler

Spacecraft TelemetrySimulator

DownlinkSchedule

SpacecraftTelemetry

EphemerisFile

Page 11: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Flow

Simulated Orbit

SurfaceMeasurements

SensorTelemetry

SensorOutput

DN

Salinity Map

AncillaryData

Sensor Geometry& Timing

InstrumentModel

RadiativeTransferModel

Data CollectionScheduler

ICDS Simulator

Sensor Memory

Simulator

Spacecraft TelemetrySimulator

SpacecraftDownlinkSimulator

ScienceBlocks

DownlinkSchedule

SensorMemory

DownlinkFiles

SpacecraftTelemetry

SensorMeasurements

Input File

IntermediateData

PersistentData

Output File

EphemerisFile

Page 12: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Scenario

• Simulated orbit (e.g., from TLEs) is used with the station coordinates to generate a daily data downlink schedule.

• Simulated orbit is used with the sensor geometry and timing and the global salinity map to generate surface observations and viewing geometry.

• Surface observations are combined with geometry, radiative transfer model and ancillary data to generate sensor observations.

• “Simplified” instrument model (with required engineering telemetry) is used to produce sensor output values (DN).

Page 13: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Scenario (cont).

• Sensor values and telemetry are formatted into science blocks.

• Science blocks are accumulated in “onboard memory” according to data collection/memory management scenario.

• Critical spacecraft telemetry (navigation) is formatted into spacecraft telemetry blocks at the specified sampling rate.

• Aquarius memory and spacecraft telemetry are “downlinked” at specified times according to downlink strategy (i.e., multiple Aquarius transmissions) and staged at CONAE.

Page 14: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Aquarius Mission Simulation Scenario (cont).

• Aquarius file is preprocessed at CONAE using ADPS-provided system.

• Aquarius and spacecraft files are acquired by ADPS.• ADPS processes Aquarius and spacecraft data to

levels 1A, 1B , 2 and 3 in mission product formats using operational data system, product generation software and ancillary data.

• ADPS generates matchups and provides to AVDS.• Aquarius GS and Science team compare mission

products with original source files.• Repeat daily until launch!

Page 15: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Implementation Stages

• Initial simulation efforts would involve single orbits, downlinks and days to verify formats, interfaces and software.

• Spacecraft telemetry would use interim formats or best available information until SAC-D formats are finalized.

• CONAE interactions would be exercised after internal ADPS verification.

• Objective is to have full-up mission simulation running daily no later than L – 1 year.

• The simulation fidelity can always be improved once the basic mechanics are functioning.

Page 16: Aquarius Mission Simulation A realistic simulation is essential for mission readiness preparations This requires the ability to produce realistic data,

Possible Improvements

• Simulated cold-sky maneuver.• Multiple downlink stations• Incorporate instrument characterization test results• Incorporate various noise and error models• ?