The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is designed as a two-satellite constellation carrying an advanced radar instrument to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface. Sentinel-1C will extend the Sentinel-1 mission’s legacy, delivering radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment.
Telespazio Germany’s data system engineers, Valerio Marcelli and Willian Abreu Ferreira, work as software coordinators for the mission, having supported the three main steps surrounding the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP).
ESA - J. Mai
Preparation Phase
During the preparation phase, which begins several months before the Simulation campaign (approximately six months prior to LEOP), the Software Coordinators (A and B, as there are two) are responsible for configuring the LEOP environment.
For single missions like EarthCARE, this environment also serves as the operational environment. However, for Sentinel-like missions, which involve multiple spacecraft of the same family (e.g., models A, B, C), a dedicated set of machines may be used exclusively for LEOP activities to prevent interference with the operational machines.
As part of their role, the Software Coordinators often collaborate extensively with ESA IT to request and configure the necessary machines and firewalls. Once this infrastructure is in place, the machines are equipped with the MCS (Mission Control System) and undergo validation in coordination with the Flight Control Team.
Simulation Campaign
During the simulation campaign, the software coordinator plays a key role by:
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Supporting the Simulation Officer in designing a realistic and engaging simulation campaign.
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Addressing Software Problem Reports (SPRs) that may arise during simulations. These sessions place the system under significant stress, providing a level of validation that would be difficult to achieve outside the campaign.
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Refining procedures in collaboration with their team, which includes the software support team provided by the MCS maintenance team.
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Training themselves on the procedures and mastering the use of the voice loop, which can be challenging to learn.
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Preparing the system for each simulation session.
LEOP
Finally, during the actual LEOP, the Software Coordinator (Softcoord) ensures the system is fully prepared and takes on 24-hour shifts to ensure the Flight Control Team (FCT) can operate smoothly without issues. Ideally, this phase involves primarily monitoring to confirm everything is functioning correctly.
“We invest significant effort during the preparation phase to ensure a seamless and stress-free LEOP.”
Valerio Marcelli, Software Coordinator for Sentinel-1C