DeepSPOCC: Critical Infrastructure for Canadian Space Exploration

About

Canada has a growing Space Exploration community. For Canadian Deep Space activities to move forward, there is a need to develop mission operation, integration, and infrastructure knowledge. DeepSPOCC, the Deep Space Planning, Operations and Communication Centre, is a concept to build the next generation of Canadian Space Explorers, and Space Exploration.

Deep Space exploration is a far more complicated endeavour than operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). LEO operations take place in a lower radiation, lower thermal strain, lower communications latency environment. Canada needs to develop expertise and new technologies in new communications, computing, and operations methodologies to become a Deep Spacefairing nation.

Planning for extremely remote assets can be complex. A single incorrect upload of a command file to a robotic system may cause a loss of mission.

Deep Space is an extremely high radiation environment compared to LEO. This makes it very difficult to provide for high-speed computing assets for everything ranging from data handling to entry, descent and landing subsystem control. Expertise must be developed in selecting, integrating, and programming the specialized computing systems needed for Deep Space exploration activities.

Ground-based computing is also very tough in this environment. Large amounts of data from space must be handled, collaborative tools for mission planning and operations are needed, and highly-reliable generation of command uplinks is required.

The future of space exploration now includes human missions to the Moon, in preparation for human missions to Mars and Beyond. SFU has been providing input on future options for Canadian Space Exploration activities, demonstrating the large contributions Canada can make to international human planetary exploration missions.

Two talks from SFU have recently been made at the 5th Canadian Space Exploration Workshop:

• The Next Big Thing: Getting Canada into Human Exploration, authored by Steve Braham (Powerpoint)
• Humans in Deep Space at SFU, authored by Andrew Blaber et al (Large Zipped Powerpoint, 90 MB, save file to disk and unzip to see)

A continuing project in the DeepSPOCC area that requires the hiring of short-term assistants. See the position announcement for details.