Advanced Spacecraft Operations and Training Tool (ASCOTT)

Current and future Air Force missions cover a diverse set of spacecraft requirements from LEO (SIBRS Low, DMSP, Space Base Laser) to MEO (Navstar GPS) to GEO (SBIRS High, DSCS, DSP, Milstar). For the Air Force to conduct satellite operations, individuals need to be trained in all aspects of the spacecraft and its mission. The spacecraft attitude control system is a critical subsystem which can be difficult to explain and difficult to comprehend without the proper aids. It is not common practice to have a spacecraft simulation delivered along with the spacecraft hardware. And if it is, it is not a tool for teaching attitude control systems to Satellite System Operators (SSO). This proposal presents a new and innovative approach to spacecraft simulation and training of SSO’s. In order to address the Attitude Control System Simulation/Trainer, Star Technologies Corporation proposes modifying its Common Object Model (COM) Simulation Architecture and its Spacecraft Dynamic Tool (SDT) to develop and demonstrate a Training Simulator which provides the capability to Plug-N-Play spacecraft components and subsystems into the simulation along with 3D Visualization displays in support of an the Instructor/Trainee Interface to train Satellite System Operators(SSO).