Expert system for European space infrastructure

The applicability of expert systems to routine space operations is discussed. A prototype system will be developed to operate with an existing spacecraft control system to act as an operator's assistant in controlling a real time simulation model of the MARECS-B spacecraft. The contribution of expert systems to enhancing operation reliability and effectiveness will be studied. Knowledge acquisition and representation for the system will be examined. The possibility of transferring ground based operations onto autonomous spaceborne systems will be investigated. The minimum that the expert is expected to achieve is recognition of operating states and diagnosis of unit-level failures and anomalies in spacecraft subsystems.