Sequence of a base campaign

Before describing the operation and organisation of a campaign it is necessary to specify the responsibilities of the three organisations involved in the launch process :

During a preparation campaign, an operational authority is responsible for coordinating all campaign operations. This authority is made up of :

• the Satellite Mission Director (DMS): campaign manager for the satellite customer.
• the Mission Head (CM): campaign manager for the launch operator. He draws mainly on two teams, the ELA team and the CNES/CSG team.
• Operations Head for the launch complex (COEL): manager in charge of preparing the launcher and the launch complex.
• Operations director (DDO): CNES/CSG manager in charge of preparing the launch base and of assistance provided by the launch base to the satellite customer and the launch operator (Arianespace).

The CNES/CSG operational team is mainly responsible, during a launch campaign, for :

• preparing the satellite :
  CNES/CSG activity mainly consists of providing assistance to the satellite team which is preparing the satellite, particularly with respect to transport, telecommunications, video, EPCU support, quality assurance, security and range safety.
• preparing the launch base :
  CNES/CSG activity mainly consists in preparing the Base for the launch, in particular during validation, training and rehearsals, before the final countdown begins.

(1) Initialising the campaign

An interface control file (DCI) is drawn up for each satellite under the responsibility of Arianespace. This contractually binding document (between Arianespace and the customer) is a compilation of specifications for interfaces between the satellite and the launch system (launcher, Base, EPCU). The information in this document (sent for information to CNES/CSG), which is often completed with reports of various meetings held to prepare the campaign, is used to define services to be provided for during the future campaign.
The request for support from CNES/CSG is drawn up as formal technical specifications: the request for complementary launch services (signed by the mission Head).

In response to this request for complementary launch services, CNES/CSG sends its response in the form of the complementary launch order (OLC) describing the technical facilities to be implemented.

(2) Satellite safety baseline proposal

The CNES/CSG range safety department prepares this document for approval, in 3 phases :

• conception (analysis of technical specifications and functional files for the satellite design);
• integration and qualification (analysis of specifications for implementation and later operations);
• operations (including the list of verifications, operation plans and procedures, the results of acceptance tests for elements considered to be at risk. The payload safety engineer checks that the equipment and operations comply with the CSG range safety regulations.

(3) Satellite support

The CNES/CSG mission consists in making available to the satellite teams, a set of facilities for preparing the satellite within the EPCU. CNES/CSG also provides all transport, storage and packaging of equipment necessary as well as weather forecasting for some specific satellite activities.

In addition, CNES/CSG is responsible for protecting life and property during the various preparation activities.

Other services provided by the CNES/CSG are :

• training satellite teams how to use CNES/CSG facilities;
• preparing the premises made available to the satellite team and keeping them in an operational condition;
• providing support for handling of the satellite and its equipment;
• inter-site transport of various ground equipment for the satellite;
• storage of the satellite and its related equipment in a building which is air-conditioned and has a controlled atmosphere;
• support from the Measurements department for the satellite (in particular, telecommunication, data transfer, video and lightning forecasting) during its preparation phase;
• support for preparing solid propellant motors and pyrotechnic elements;
• storage and transport of various storable satellite propellants;
• support for propellant filling operations (with supply of special protective suits$ for the fuelmen, monitoring and recording of environment conditions, the supply of passivation products, power supply, telecommunications, etc.);
• support in the form of X-rays of the solid propellant apogee motors;
• storage of motors and related pyrotechnics before integration;
• analysis of various propellants before satellite filling;
• supply of various fluids (liquid, gas);
• delivery of TM, TC & data links via operational support networks (STFO, ROMULUS).

For the purpose of successfully achieving all support operations for satellite teams, CNES/CSG has set up a system of formal reviews to check that the configuration of facilities and procedures complies with the satellite team specifications. These are the Base preparation reviews, chaired by Operations Deputy Director (SDO) (RPB1A, the day before the satellite arrives, and RPB1B, before propellant filling).

Following these phases, the overall management and coordination of launcher and satellite activities is entrusted to the launch operator during the phase known as the combined operations plan (POC) during which the launcher and its payload are subject to the same schedule.

The launch operator is in charge of the POC phase, which involves:

• integration of the satellite in its flight adaptor,
• encapsulation of the satellite in the fairing,
• transfer of the composite from the EPCU to the front zone (BAF)
• integration (assembly) on the launcher.

(4) Mission Analysis (Measurements)

The campaign measurements deputy (AME) draws up a mission analysis document at the level of the measurements system. He checks that the system is compatible with the telemetry frequencies, analyses visibility and intervisibility of stations, checks whether overrides are possible or not.
For unusual launchers, the AME has to undertake a preliminary mission analysis which is validated during a formal review.

Trajectory safety baseline proposal :

This proposal is prepared in 3 phases by the CNES/CSG flight safety department. It involves :

• a preliminary mission analysis
• a first flight simulation
• a final flight prediction to enable final acceptance of the trajectory.

(5) Ariane Launch Base (BLA) preparation

Following the mission analysis performed by the measurements deputy, the following documents are drawn up :

• Request for operational technical support (by the telemetry manager)
• Elements for tracking, location and telecommand (by the tracking and location manager)
• Specific TELECOM configuration file (by the Telecommunications manager)

A typical sequence of operations would then involve the configuration of the BLA systems, tests, (by system and then overall), training in operations, preparatory meetings (meeting D0-10, meetings for determining whether specific overrides are possible or not, waiver meetings, etc.)

(6) Launcher support

All activity performed for the launcher and ground, control and launch facilities fall under the responsibility of the launch operator.
The latter nevertheless entrusts CNES/CSG with the support activities involving acceptance and transport of launcher elements to the ELA as well as support for telecommunications, power supply, air conditioning, range safety and video optics throughout the launcher campaign.

The CNES/CSG measurements department is also responsible for parameters recorded on the launcher during tests which take place during the campaign.

CNES/CSG also provides weather forecasting for various launcher activities.

(7) Final preparation

Before the final phase of the campaign begins, CNES/CSG holds a final contractual review chaired by SDO, the RPB phase 2. The purpose of this review is to present the Mission Head (AE) with the detailed configuration and status of all Base facilities before authorising the general rehearsal of the launch countdown.

Following this review, the Base configuration is frozen. A formal waiver system is set up to allow for specific urgent work to be done.

The General Rehearsal (RG) is a launch countdown operation for the Base with the exception of ELA. It is done at D0-3. The purpose is to check the interactive operation of all Base facilities including the launcher interface. During the RG, all Base facilities including downrange stations, provide the same services as during the launch, with the launcher flight being simulated by means of computer recordings (tapes or files) which are representative of the flight and come from a previous launch which is the most similar to the launch to be provided. All participants assigned to a launch participate in the RG.

The main activities done on D-1 mainly concern filling of the Ariane 5 liquid helium subsystem. These operations are managed by Arianespace. CNES/CSG provides ground safety support, telecommunications, synchronisation, optics/video, meteorological forecasting, logistics, range safety and fire prevention and fighting services.

(8) Launch

The countdown for implementing the facilities involved in CNES/CSG missions for the launch is governed by a document entitled “Chronologie de Lancement (Launch countdown)” which is managed by the Operations Department and by all procedures used by participants during the countdown.
It is broken down into two phases :

• Negative countdown before T0 :
  The purpose of the negative countdown is to check the facilities and to produce a set of status reports (CRE) of Base facilities which are displayed in the JUPITER 2 control centre. These CREs converge towards the operational managers at the CDC, and ultimately to the Operations Director (DDO). The countdown may be interrupted depending on the CRE NOGO criteria, by applying the overrides document.
• Positive countdown after T0 :
  During this phase all facilities implemented by CNES/CSG are used to track the launcher (tracking and location, telemetry and telecommand) in order to fulfil CNES/CSG responsibility for range safety and to provide date for evaluating the final satellite orbit.