“Frigate” satellites Galileo summed software – Proceedings

upper stage “Fregat”. Photo: federalspace.ru

Commission to investigate the causes of the accident at deducing the Russian “Soyuz-ST-B» on August 22 Galileo satellites determined with a basic version of what happened. The failure of the upper stage “Fregat-MT”, because of which the spacecraft turned into an unplanned orbit, was due to incorrect operation of the control system, manufactured by the Moscow Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Scientific-Production Center of Automatics and Instrument Academician Pilyugina” (NPTSAP). According to a source, “Izvestia” Roskosmos will likely contingency operation of the integrated management system is the result of a software error, laid on board. As a result, the upper stage got the wrong flight mission and, having worked in full compliance with the laid down program, delivered to the wrong phones. Software for the control system are also prepared in NPTSAP, said the source.

August 22 at 16.27 MSK “Soyuz-ST -b “production Samara Rocket Center” Progress “with the upper stage” Fregat-MT “was launched from the Baikonur European Space Agency (ESA) in French Guiana. Rocket had to be put into orbit two satellites pan-European navigation system Galileo. Running was abnormally, and devices have been an unplanned orbit, where they can not use the title. Starting full operation of services as a result of Galileo will be rescheduled at a later date, the details of the failed launch from ESA has requested the European Commission. Source in the Federal Space Agency said that the incident has caused very serious reaction and the top leadership of the Russian Federation, in connection with which the head of the space agency, Oleg Ostapenko was “difficult conversation in the White House».

In NPTSAP advised to ask for comments on September 2 when the work will appropriate specialist. In the United Rocket and Space Corporation (ACCD), responsible for the reform of the space industry, said that the commission to investigate the causes of the accident working at an accelerated rate and the results will be announced in the near future.

– Works Joint Commission and the Russian Space Agency ESA to investigate the incident with the satellites Galileo, studied data on both sides to determine the reasons for which the satellites were not printed to the proper orbit, – said Igor Burenkov, head of information policy ACCD. – The Commission is working at high speed, and you must wait until the final outcome of the investigation. If the International Commission comes to the conclusion that the incident occurred due to the fault of the Russian side, then there will be the appropriate solution.

Earlier, the European aerospace concern Arianespace, the operator of the launch, announced the results announcement of the commission on the 8th of September. It was reported that the committee consists of experts from Russia, Italy, France and Germany.

Victor Hart, CEO of Lavochkin where make first flew flawlessly boosters family “Fregat”, refused to discuss the versions of what happened.

Software – is not the most common cause of failure of the Russian space art. Most often, abnormal situations happen because of the “iron.” However, the loudest failure in space technology this year, which resulted in the failure of 11 hours out all spacecraft GLONASS system occurred because of errors in the software. The software codes for GLONASS made on its own software platform, to avoid the possibility of external influence. However, in our original software environment is not enough money to develop. Therefore, initially the program written in the operating system environment, Windows, and then their “distilled” by the compilers of the original product. Error in the equation, which resulted in the failure of the system on April 2 appeared just in the process of “translation” of code from one environment to another.

– Errors in software commonly found on the stages of mining machinery, – the member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after Tsiolkovsky Andrew, son of John. – For serial devices that fly long as the same “frigates”, the error in the software – it’s pretty rare cause abnormal operation. Because there software from flight to flight, as a rule, does not change. But mistakes happen in the flight task, it needs to be thoroughly checked.