Telemetry, Tracking & Control (TT&C) Systems and Software Engineering Workshop by Tonex
Duration: 2 Days | Format: In-Person / Virtual / Hybrid
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Credential: Certificate of Completion (Optional)
This hands-on workshop equips engineers, architects, and mission support personnel with the foundational principles and advanced practices for designing, implementing, testing, and sustaining TT&C systems and software. Participants will explore satellite-ground communications, protocol stacks (CCSDS, SLE), real-time software, antenna integration, and mission operation architectures.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the functional roles and architecture of TT&C in satellite missions.
- Design telemetry and command systems for LEO, MEO, GEO, and interplanetary platforms.
- Implement standards-compliant TT&C software using CCSDS, ECSS, and SLE protocols.
- Develop real-time and embedded TT&C software modules with performance and resilience in mind.
- Integrate TT&C with ground stations, flight software, and mission operations centers.
- Validate TT&C systems through simulation, HIL, and RF link testing.
- Ensure cybersecurity, redundancy, and survivability in TT&C software and interfaces.
Target Audience:
- Spacecraft systems and software engineers
- Ground segment developers and satellite operators
- RF and telemetry engineers
- Aerospace software architects
- Satellite mission planners and operators
- Aerospace defense contractors and integrators
- TT&C subsystem test engineers
- Flight software developers
Workshop Modules:
Day 1 – TT&C Systems Architecture and Engineering
Module 1: Introduction to TT&C
- Overview of TT&C functions: telemetry downlink, command uplink, tracking
- TT&C in satellite operations and mission control
- Architecture overview: onboard, transponder, ground terminal
- TT&C subsystems: antennas, modems, crypto units, TWTAs
Module 2: Telemetry System Engineering
- TM data generation and onboard sensors
- CCSDS telemetry formats and packet structures
- TDM vs. packetized telemetry
- Real-time vs. stored telemetry systems
- Telemetry handling at the ground station and data center
Module 3: Tracking & Orbit Determination
- Radiometric tracking (range, range-rate, Doppler)
- Antenna tracking methods: auto-track, monopulse, conical scan
- Orbit determination basics (EKF, batch least squares)
- Integration with GNSS-based tracking and autonomous navigation
Module 4: Command System Design
- Command generation and transmission architecture
- CCSDS Telecommand Packet and Frame Standards
- Command validation, authentication, and encryption
- Uplink modulation, timing, and critical command handling
- Redundancy management and command loss mitigation
Day 2 – TT&C Software Engineering, Standards & Testing
Module 5: TT&C Software Architecture
- Embedded flight software for TT&C subsystems
- RTOS and scheduler integration for TT&C tasks
- Ground software components: M&C interfaces, GUIs, APIs
- Software bus architectures (e.g., cFS, ROS, custom middleware)
Module 6: TT&C Protocols and Standards
- CCSDS: Space Link Protocols (TM, TC, AOS)
- ECSS-E-70 series, CFDP, SDLS, Proximity-1
- Space Link Extension (SLE) services and applications
- Interfacing with SCOS-2000 or custom ground software
Module 7: Simulation, Verification & Validation
- SIL and HIL TT&C simulation architectures
- RF link simulation and test tools (STK, MATLAB, RFEmulator)
- Test vectors for command handling and telemetry validation
- Software testing with fault injection and redundancy switching
- Ground-to-space loopback test procedures
Module 8: Security, Reliability, and Future of TT&C
- Cybersecurity for TT&C uplinks and downlinks
- Secure authentication and anti-jam protocols
- Resilient TT&C under fault conditions and contested EM environments
- Optical TT&C and future trends (quantum links, laser comms)
- AI for anomaly detection and autonomous commanding
Workshop Exercises & Tools
- Case Study: TT&C system failure and incident resolution
- Architecture Drill: Design TT&C software architecture with redundancy & watchdogs
Course Materials
- TT&C data flow diagrams and templates
- CCSDS protocol reference cards
- Packet structure cheat sheets (TC/TM)
- Sample telemetry databases and command plans
- Open-source toolkits and simulators list
Optional Add-ons
- TT&C software module templates (C/C++/Python)
- SCORM-compliant version for LMS
- Satellite mission-specific tailoring (LEO Earth observation, GEO comms, DoD)