Innovative approaches for the planning and scheduling tool of COSMO-SkyMed di seconda generazione

COSMO-SkyMed di Seconda Generazione (COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, CSG) is an “end-to-end” satellite system for Earth Observation that will be composed of two mid-sized satellites placed in Low Earth Orbit and embarking a high resolution X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar. The constellation is intended for dual-use, both civilian and defense, with the twofold objective of ensuring operational continuity to the currently operating “first generation” constellation (COSMO-SkyMed, CSK), while significantly improving its functionality and performances. CSG system has been designed to achieve an enhanced Ground Segment capable to properly manage the new resulting constellation (CSK+CSG). In particular, a suitable Mission Planner has been developed to quickly fulfil the challenging needs of the heterogeneous users, that may be even contradictory due to the different domains. The CSG Ground Segment (GS) subsystems devoted to perform the programming coordination (S-PCE) and the mission planning service (S-PLA) work in an iterative dynamic process that involves both the S-PCE functions and the S-PLA ones. The former foresees a programming functional chain composed of several steps devoted to the management of the CSG National and International Harmonization phase. The Harmonization is a system phase that is performed to merge multiple input Acquisition Request (AR) Lists into only one output AR List according to predefined set of rules. The latter implements innovative adaptive planning algorithms able to ensure the following issues: Rank-based planning control strategy; Time convergence of the Rank-based planning control strategy; Optimization-based planning control strategy. In this way the S-PLA produces, on the basis of a unique International AR List created by S-PCE, a mission plan that satisfies the higher priority requests and optimizes the overall plan with the remaining lower priority requests according to the users programming rights consumption, while fully employing the system resources. The S-PCE as well as the S-PLA are composed of a kernel adaptable to the specificities of the single mission/sensor, thus the whole System allows a minimally invasive integration of heterogeneous resources and is able to support international partnerships and cooperation implemented by ASI and It-MoD. © 2016, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.