CRC/INPE Preparing to Control the Amazônia-1 Satellite

Hello reader!

It follows a note published on the day (06/01) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) stating that the CRC/INPE preparing to control the Amazônia-1 Satellite.

Duda Falcão

CRC/INPE Preparing to Control

the Amazônia-1 Satellite

Friday, June 01, 2012

The Space Link Extension protocol (SLE) has been successfully tested this week at the Center for Satellite Tracking and Control (Centro de Controle e Rastreio de Satélites  - CRC) of the Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE) in São José dos Campos.

The standardization protocol is necessary for international support to satellite control and will benefit the Amazônia-1 operations, being developed by INPE. To perform the SLE test, commands were sent to SCD-1, the INPE’s satellite for environmental collection, in orbit since 1993.

The SLE is a protocol defined by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), an international organization created in 1982 that brings together the world's major space agencies to define recommendations on operation, interoperability and mutual support to space systems. INPE is a CCSDS founding member.

Due this protocol, INPE might be supported by other tracking stations around the world to track its own satellites, such as the Amazônia-1, and, likewise, might provide tracking services to other international agencies. In the coming weeks, the integration between CRC and Svalbard station, Norway, is going to be tested.

CRC/INPE

The Center for Satellite Tracking and Control (Centro de Controle e Rastreio de Satélites  - CRC) is dedicated to manage INPE satellites operations in orbit, or joint satellite of INPE and foreign institutions. The center is also able to support third parties’ space missions. It consists of the Satellite Control Center (Centro de Controle de Satélite - CCS) in São José dos Campos (SP), the Earth Station of Cuiabá (MT), Earth Station of Alcântara (MA), and the communication network that connects them.

CRC/INPE operating room, in São José dos Campos

Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)