Download Appendix Launch Campaign: a representative case

Ingegneria Marketing Tecnologia
Laurea Specialistica in Ingegneria Spaziale
2° anno
Corso ‘Stazioni di Terra’
Appendice 16
Example of Launch Campaign
Giorgio Perrotta
Anno accademico 2007
Launch Campaign: a representative case
The launch campaign is planned with the following scenario:
- N° of satellites
two
- N° of launches
two single launches;
- Launcher (s)
The launch campaign formally begins with the delivery at the launch site of the spacecraft and its
associated GSE and concludes with GSE shipment after launch.
- Pre-Launch Activities
The following is planned in preparation to the launch operations:
Launch Campaign Documents Preparation;
Launch Support Equipment (LSE) Definition and Availability;
Propellants Handling and Availability;
Spacecraft and LSE Transport to Launch Site.
- Launch Campaign Documents
The documents required for the launch campaign can be divided in the following categories:
- Documents required by the launch authority;
- Documents required by the program management;
- Documents required for the spacecraft operations.
- Launch Authority Required Documents
The following list show the documents typically required by the Launch Authority for the required
launch services and the time relationship to the launch date.
- Spacecraft Mass Properties
- Spacecraft Dynamic Model
- Spacecraft Thermal Model
- Spacecraft CAD Model Orbit Specification
- Spacecraft Radio System Inputs for EMC
- Spacecraft to Fairing Requirements (Windows, Insignia)
- Safety Submission documents
- Launch Operation Manual
The following table shows instead the documents relevant to the spacecraft operations at the launch
site.
I
D
1
2
3
TITLE
Spacecraft Launch Site Test Plan
Spacecraft Integrated Operations Inputs
Spacecraft Launch Site Procedures
Table A.1 Spacecraft operation document for Launch
- Spacecraft Launch Site Test Plan
To provide the Customer with a detailed understanding of the launch site activities and operations
planned for a particular mission, the spacecraft maker is required to prepare a spacecraft launch site
test plan. The plan is intended to describe all aspects of the spacecraft operations while at the launch
site.
The document shall contain:
- Detailed specifications of the spacecraft tests to be performed at the launch site;
- Step-by step description of the tasks to be performed;
- LSE inventory.
- Spacecraft Integrated Operations Inputs
For each mission, the launch authority prepares launch site procedures for various operations that
involve the spacecraft after it is mated with the launcher upper stage. Included are requirements for
operations such as spacecraft weighing, spacecraft installation to third stage and into the handling
can, spacecraft transportation to the launch complex, spacecraft hoisting into the white room,
handling-can removal, spacecraft/third-stage mating to launch vehicle, fairing installation, flight
program verification test, and launch countdown. Of particular interest are spacecraft
tasks/requirements during the final week before launch.
- Spacecraft Launch Site Test Procedures
Operating procedures must be prepared for all operations that are accomplished at the launch site.
For those operations that are hazardous in nature (either to equipment or to personnel), special
instructions must be followed in preparing the procedures.
- Documents required by the program management
These are:
- Spacecraft and LSE Transportation Plan;
- Spacecraft Storage and Maintenance Plan;
- Launch Operation Contingency Plan;
- LSE Maintenance Plan;
- Management Plan for Launch Operation, Launch and Commissioning;
- Launch Campaign Schedule.
- Documents required for the spacecraft operations
The spacecraft operations at the launch site are driven by two documents:
1. The Spacecraft Launch Site Test Plan, already mentioned in preceding sections as it is a
Launch authority required document.
2. The Launch Campaign Schedule, issued by the Project Control organization.
Most of the procedures and handbooks recalled as applicable within the Spacecraft Launch Site
Test Plan are the same already utilized during the spacecraft assembly and test phase; these are
detailed within the relevant task sheet of the operation to be performed.
Additional procedures and manuals are produced specifically for the actual launch campaign and
typically cover the following areas:
- Hazards and safety control;
- Propellants loading;
- Spacecraft to launcher interface verification and links validation;
- Specific Test Set-Ups;
- Count down and rehearsal;
- Non-Flight hardware removal;
- Spacecraft monitoring and emergency plan.
- Launch Support Equipment (LSE) Definition and Availability
The LSE, i.e. the ground support equipment to be used at the launch site, is mainly composed by
equipment already utilized during the spacecraft integration and test, namely:
- The Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE);
- The Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE);
- The Propulsion Ground Support Equipment (PGSE).
These equipment are described in the GSE section of the document and utilized according to the
relevant manuals and test procedures.
The equipment specifically developed for the launch campaign is the following:
1. The Check-Out Terminal Equipment (COTE), also known as Block-House Equipment (BHE),
used to interface the spacecraft umbilical lines in the launch pad blockhouse (bus power,
battery charging and TM/TC video).
2. The Umbilical Validation Tool (UVT), used to validate the umbilical lines.
3. The Exerciser, explosion proof interface box, used to monitor and control the UPS during
propellants loading in the hazardous area.
4. The Tanking Ground Support Equipment (TGSE), including all equipment required for
propellants and gases storage, sampling and loading.
- Propellants Handling and Availability
The following activities are planned to be performed:
1) Emission of the relevant specification;
2) Procurement of the required quantities, including sufficient spare to replace the prime supplies
in case sample analyses declare part of the propellant unsuitable for use (tbc);
3) Transport and insurance of the propellant and gases to the launch site;
4) Disposal of residual propellants and transfer tanks decontamination;
5) Transfer of empty transfer tanks back to Europe.
- Spacecraft and LSE Transport to Launch Site
The Spacecraft and LSE Transportation Plan defines and plan all the activities and relevant
documentation required to transport the spacecraft and Launch Support Equipment from Europe to
the chosen launch site and return.
- Spacecraft Operations at the Launch Site
With the objective to reduce to the minimum the duration of the operations at the launch site, the
spacecraft’s configuration at the delivery shall be as complete as possible, i.e.
- Flight batteries installed (in discharge state, blanket pressure);
- Solar Arrays installed;
- Antennas installed;
- Ordnance circuits installed (not armed).
- Spacecraft and GSE transportation by air is the baseline carrier considered
It is required that the spacecraft will be shipped to the launch site in temperature conditioned
containers in which the spacecraft will be mounted on a vibration and shock isolation system. The
containers and the spacecraft shall be instrumented to record vibration, shock and temperature
levels to which the spacecraft is subjected throughout the transportation period. Prior to processing
the spacecraft for flight, the records taken during transportation shall be carefully reviewed to
ensure that the spacecraft has not been subjected to environmental levels in excess of those to which
the spacecraft equipment has been acceptance tested. Observance of these precautions will greatly
reduce the risk of launching a spacecraft that has been damaged in transportation. Therefore
spacecraft testing at the launch site can be minimized.
A Launch Site Readiness Review (LSRR) is planned to be held some weeks before launch.
This review is held at the launch site prior to the mating of the second stage and spacecraft to the
launch vehicle. The status and entire launch site processing history of the launch vehicle elements
and ground support equipment are reviewed. The primary focus of this review is on the readiness of
the launch vehicle for mating the spacecraft to the second stage. Upon completion of this meeting
and resolution of any concerns raised, authorization is given to proceed with spacecraft transfer to
the launch pad.
- Activities in the Non-Hazardous Processing Facility
start
A
S/C
Receiving
S/C
Unloading
& Inspection
S/C - PAF
Fit Check
S/C
Transport
to HPF
S/C Prep.
for transport
to HPF
S/C
Electrical
Test
S/C
Preparation
for Test
S/C EGSE
Preparation
Figure A.1 Activities in the non-hazardous processing facility
The spacecraft is subjected to a series of functional tests prior to the start of the launch preparation
activities in the hazardous processing facility (e.g. propellant loading and pressurization) and the
integration activities with the launch vehicle.
These tests shall demonstrate that the actual spacecraft performance, as established prior to the
shipment of the spacecraft to the launch site, can be confirmed, and shall include as a minimum:
- Power Consumption Verification;
- Spacecraft Functional Check-Out (FCO).
- SLRR
A Spacecraft Loading Readiness Review (SLRR) will be held to confirm the spacecraft readiness
for propellants loading, before moving the spacecraft to the Hazardous Processing Facility (HPF).
This review shall verify the progress and readiness of the launch services for the combined
activities before authorizing the filling of the propellants.
- Activities in the Hazardous Processing Facility
Propellant Prep.
& Analyses
(tbc)
S/C TGSE
Set-up
A
B
S/C
Receiving
S/C
installation
on the S/C
Scale
S/C
propellants
loading
S/C Batteries
Charge
Composite
transport
to PAD
S/C Canister
Encapsulatio
n
Non Flight
H/W
Removal
Spacecraft/
PAM Mate
Figure A.2 Activities in the hazardous processing facility
Following the transfer of the satellite to the hazardous processing facility, all satellite activities shall
be carried out for the launch preparation, e.g. propellant loading and pressurization, batteries
charging and the integration with the launch vehicle.
At completion of this activity a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) will be held to confirm the
readiness of the spacecraft for the integration with the launch vehicle.
- Combined Activities
B
BHE
Installation
BHE/Control
Room
Link
Validation
Umbilical
Validation
Composite
Installation on
Launch
Vehicle
S/C
Inspection &
Final NonFlight
H/W Removal
S/C Final
Check
& Battery
Trickle
Charge
Count-Down
Rehearsal
LAUNCH
Figure A.3 Combined Activities
Following the installation of the spacecraft on the launch vehicle, as a minimum, the following
activities shall be performed:
- Last Non-Flight Hardware removal;
- Umbilical connections verification;
- Batteries trickle and boost charge verification;
- Spacecraft’s Lift-Off Configuration;
- TCR antenna link verification;
- Launch Dress Rehearsal.
- LRR
At completion of this activity a Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will be held; this review will
confirm the readiness of spacecraft, launch site services, transfer orbit control sites and satellite
operations control center for the Lift-Off.
A summary schedule of above activities is shown in figure A.4_1
- Post Launch Activities
Launch site post-launch activities deal with:
Disposal of residual propellants and fluids;
Decontamination of transfer tanks;
Packing and shipping to Europe of Launch Support Equipment.