TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is generally directed to satellite systems. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to a system and method for satellite constellation management and scheduling.

BACKGROUND

The space market is evolving rapidly as the cost of entry to space continues to drop. As the costs of space vehicles and launches continue to decline, the market is shifting to ever larger constellations and enabling more international access to space. Additionally, on-board computational power continues to increase, which enables increasing vehicle autonomy. Current satellite collection mission management systems operate by using very fine grain vehicle models and weigh the priority of a data collection (such as images, temperature readings, and the like) against the opportunities and costs (such as vehicle resources) for collection. However, such systems do not easily scale to accommodate large constellations (such as greater than thirty vehicles). Moreover, such systems do not accommodate increasing vehicle autonomy and collaboration with third party systems.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a system and method for satellite constellation management and scheduling.

In a first embodiment, a method includes receiving request information obtained from an external user. The request information is associated with a task to be completed by at least one satellite asset among a plurality of satellite assets, where the satellite assets are grouped into a plurality of constellations and each of the constellations is associated with a corresponding scheduler among a plurality of schedulers. The method also includes assigning the task to a queue. The method further includes determining at least one specified scheduler to schedule the task at the at least one satellite asset. In addition, the method includes sending instructions to the at least one specified scheduler for performing the task by the at least one satellite asset.

In a second embodiment, a system includes a plurality of schedulers configured to schedule a plurality of satellite assets. Each scheduler is associated with a corresponding constellation, where each constellation includes a group of the satellite assets. The system also includes a constellation manager configured to receive request information obtained from an external user. The request information is associated with a task to be completed by at least one satellite asset among the plurality of satellite assets. The constellation manager is also configured to assign the task to a queue. The constellation manager is further configured to determine at least one specified scheduler to schedule the task at the at least one satellite asset. In addition, the constellation manager is configured to send instructions to the at least one specified scheduler for performing the task by the at least one satellite asset.

In a third embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium contains instructions that when executed cause at least one processor to receive request information obtained from an external user. The request information is associated with a task to be completed by at least one satellite asset among a plurality of satellite assets, where the satellite assets are grouped into a plurality of constellations and each of the constellations is associated with a corresponding scheduler among a plurality of schedulers. The non-transitory computer readable medium also contains instructions that when executed cause the at least one processor to assign the task to a queue. The non-transitory computer readable medium further contains instructions that when executed cause the at least one processor to determine at least one specified scheduler to schedule the task at the at least one satellite asset. In addition, the non-transitory computer readable medium contains instructions that when executed cause the at least one processor to send instructions to the at least one specified scheduler for performing the task by the at least one satellite asset.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

