Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Novel payload planning and scheduling approaches implemented for AstroSat mission

  • MISSION
  • Published:
Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

AstroSat is an astronomical observatory from India which is in a low earth orbit of 650 km altitude with a 6-degree inclination and has been functioning successfully in orbit for the last 5 years. The simultaneous observation by the payloads allows imaging of celestial sources in various wavebands that has resulted in scientific achievements which are published in various forum. Uniqueness of its orbit, and scientific objectives calls for a different type of scheduling approach and a hands-free automated tasking of payloads, on this satellite. Several software architectures involving a Centralized data-base called Mission Control And Proposals (MCAP) with the Scheduler, AstroSat Scheduler TeRminus for PAyLoads (ASTRAL), AstroSat Scheduler Software for OpeRaTions (ASSORT), Command Sequence Generation (CSG), AstroSat Schedule Viewer (ASV), Astroviewer and AstroSat Long Term Planner (ASPlanner) were developed and used for celestial source observations. This paper describes briefly the scheduling approaches, their goals, utilization, lessons learnt and improvements carried out over the last 5 years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Source: ROSAT SAA Guest Observer Facility (NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre).

Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balamurugan C. et al. 2021, AstroSat Proposal Processing System, J. Astrophys. Astr., 42, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-021-09703-9

  • Nagamani T., Bhardwaj N., Dakshayani B. et al. 2010, AstroSat Software Tool to Aid Celestial Source Viewing, 61st International Astronautical Congress, Prague, CZ, Paper IAC-10-A3.4.6

  • Pandiyan R., Subbarao S. V. Nagamani T. et al. 2017, Planning and Scheduling of Payloads of AstroSat during Initial and Normal Phase Observations, J. Astrophys. Astr., 38, 35

Download references

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge Dr Ramalingam Pandiyan, Mission Director (Retired), Mr A. S. Shastry, Group Head, SHMSG and Dr M. P. Ramachandran, Group Director, Flight Dynamics Group for the support provided during design and development activities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anshu Chauhan.

Additional information

This article is part of the Special Issue on “AstroSat: Five Years in Orbit”.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chauhan, A., Nagamani, T., Bhardwaj, N. et al. Novel payload planning and scheduling approaches implemented for AstroSat mission. J Astrophys Astron 42, 23 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-021-09727-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12036-021-09727-1

Keywords

Navigation