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ICS
Joins The 3CS Team Columbia,
Md., May 29, 2001 --
Interface & Control Systems (ICS) announced today that it is teaming
with the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU) to provide the onboard
execution system for Three Corner Sat (3CS). The 3CS mission is scheduled
to launch in the summer of 2002. 3CS
consists of three identical miniature satellites, each weighing less than
15 kilograms (33 pounds) that will be deployed in a stack
configuration from the Space Shuttle and will then separate to form a
"virtual formation." The constellation will orbit at
approximately 380 km with a 40-degree angle of inclination. The mission
lifetime is estimated to be 2-4 months. The goals of the 3CS mission
include the demonstration of stereo imaging, formation flying and
innovative command and data handling. The
3CS mission will demonstrate significant onboard autonomy including: a
robust execution system using SCL, onboard planning using CASPER, and
onboard anomaly detection using SELMON. SCL is a real-time autonomous
command and control product produced by Interface & Control Systems
(ICS), which has been flown previously by CSGC on the DATA-CHASER shuttle
payload, Clementine, FUSE, and a number of other missions. SCL
provides a rule and script-based procedural language for encoding robust
execution procedures, including basic coordination constructs such as
locking, blocking, and run-time resource management. “3CS will be utilizing
both SCL and the Spacecraft Markup Language (SML) to support a robust
messaging system called ‘SpaceTalk’”, said a spokesperson for ICS. "We are very excited about the future of
intelligent control systems and see a wide range of applications for both
flight and ground systems", added Brian Buckley, VP of marketing for
ICS.
CASPER will demonstrate onboard continuous planning to enable the
3CS constellation to respond to mission anomalies and validate science
data onboard. CASPER will be integrated with the SCL execution system
allowing for tight feedback from SCL rules and scripts to be reflected and
acted upon within the CASPER plans. Finally, the SELMON monitoring system
will be used to
enable context-sensitive anomaly detection. ICS
is a Product Development and Engineering Services Company specializing in
the development of real-time, embedded, and autonomous command and control
software systems. Services include software systems engineering,
integration and test, intelligent e-Business solutions, and project and
software life cycle management. ICS is a privately held company with main
offices in Columbia, MD, and Melbourne, FL. -
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