Down-to-Earth way to test satellite systems

A pioneering facility for testing satellite control systems is to be built in the UK. 

Researchers at Southampton University are to develop Europe’s first centre capable of accurately modelling the dynamics of two satellites in space and their communication with each other.

Project leader Prof Sandol Veres said the centre will help observe the behaviour of satellites in orbit. ‘This facility is really going to be quite pioneering as there are currently no real means for satellite systems to be tested on the ground,’ he said. ‘We will be able to replace calculations with something more tangible and monitor the performance of the control systems as they actually are.’

As well as control, the facility is designed to test a satellite’s communications and on-board sensors.

‘The main problem with accurately manoeuvring satellites is that in orbit they are so far from any other reference point. They can only fix their position with reference to each other. Being able to accurately monitor the effectiveness of any control systems will be of enormous use in this,’ said Veres.