A Review of Conventional and Innovative Satellite Mission Planning Systems

The paper is a review of conventional and innovative planning systems of satellite operations in missions of observation of target objects on the ground and in space. In conventional planning systems satellites are considered executors of plans computed by ground control centers. This approach has some disadvantages that may significantly decrease efficiency of satellites operation. The paper includes a description and an analysis of these disadvantages. The existence of these disadvantages and challenges of small satellites mission planning are the reasons of re-search and development of innovative methods and planning systems that mainly assume adaptive autonomous on-board planning and information interaction between satellites. Development of the latter possibility is considered a basis that may provide adaptive group behavior of satellites.
The review includes a description of different innovative planning systems that are either already used in experimental modes in actual missions or so far being developed and investigated via simulation. The paper also contains a review of some prospective elaborations in the area of communication between satellites as these opportunities can significantly influence the mission planning problem statement.