SpaceOps 2023 highlights interplanetary communication and space operations

The fourth day of SpaceOps2023, the 17th International Conference on Space Operations, held in the Arab world for the first time by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), offered attendees a diverse range of informative and inspiring presentations and sessions.

Experts from NASA, ESA, JAXA and KARI discussed the development of lunar communication concepts, architectures, and systems, as well as international interoperability.

"Lunar communication has a diverse set of users, from CubeSats to complicated missions like pressurized rovers,"

said Wael El-Dali, Space System Engineer at ESA.

"We would like to invite our partners to invest in lunar communication infrastructure and provide support in implementing, running, and maintaining it."

The plenary session also touched upon communication with Mars, during which Suzanne Dodd from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory discussed the challenges of communicating with the red planet.

"It is doable, but not easy. It will take a lot of partners, standards, and international collaborations,"

she said.

Throughout the day, oral presentations were held on topics including mission design, ground system engineering, human spaceflight and operations, communication and architecture network, guidance, navigation, and control. There were also discussions on improving the safety and reliability of space operations.

The conference will conclude on Friday with a closing ceremony, in addition to a final day of plenary sessions, special sessions, oral presentations, and exhibitions.

News Source: Emirates News Agency