Spacecraft operator training from simulation to application

Although engineering education usually covers most parts of satellite design, only a few universities cover the operational and practical part of spacecraft operations. Several universities in Europe have recognized this gap and offer also satellite operations courses. The Spacecraft Operations Training Centre (STC) based on in-house experience of over 30 years of spacecraft operations provides an affordable operator training solution which is not only an effective education source but also an industrial tool used for spacecraft operators for ESA missions. It combines a full mission operations simulator, a ground system simulator, the Training Mission Control System, and a full set of lectures and exercises, which provide the fundamental knowledge needed for flying a mission, based on the same standards as industry, without the complexity and the costs of a real mission. This paper discusses the challenges faced in earth observation satellite operations, problems related to training, the training solution STC, and the latest advances of STC.