Euclid, slated for a 2020 launch, is ESA’s dark universe mapping mission. It comprises a telescope coupled up to two instruments: the Visual Imager (VIS) and the Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP). Once launched, the spacecraft will slot into the second Langrian Point, L2, from where it will observe billions of distant galaxies and investigate the nature of matter and of dark energy, key components in the formation and evolution of the universe.

For Euclid, flexplan will not be used in its classic mission-planning function; rather will it take on the SOC Commanding System (SCS) function; this is a component of the Science Operating Center (SOC) in charge of very low-level checking (atomic telecommands) of the plans received from the science planner. These plans will then serve as the basis for generating the instruments’ telecommand package to be sent by the Mission Operations Center (MOC) to the spacecraft for subsequent execution onboard.

flexplan thus shows its use versatility in operating different sorts of missions and carrying out different functions within the ground segment, whether for operations planning or the precise checking of plans generated by third parties, offering ESA a versatile tool and a robust and complete product.

This is the first flexplan takeup of ESA’s Science Operations Center in Villafranca del Castillo (ESA-ESAC), where Euclid’s SOC will be deployed. This therefore represents a new feather in the cap of GMV’s fleet planning solution.