Case Study | ESA | Space Technology
03 | 2010
European Space Agency (ESA)
DATA FROM
OUTER SPACE
Launched by an Ariane 5 rocket on
14 May 2009, the ESA "Herschel"
telescope is delivering image and
„
spectroscopic data from outer
space, and the astrophysical world
is raving about it.
Telemetry data and information on
steering and calibrating scientific
on-board instruments is managed
in an object database from Versant.
Photo: ESA/NASA - SOHO/LASCO, "Inside the dark heart of the Eagle"
Outer space offers some very tough in-flight instruments had to use a multi-
conditions for the European Space tude of tools to analyze critical instrument
Agency’s (ESA) Herschel Telescope. data extracted from various files.
"Infrared radiation, high-energy particles
from solar eruptions and other events are EASILY STORE AND RETRIEVE DATA
constantly bombarding the measurement
equipment on board. "With the Versant Object Database, we
now have a technology at our fingertips
Satellite parts which we keep shadowed that has significantly simplified our work,"
from the Sun at all times are icy cold while tells Dr. Riedinger. "The data obtained
other parts, such as boxes containing from the satellite is available in the Versant
electronic equipment, have to be kept database on the same day."
at room temperature," describes
Dr. Johannes Riedinger, Herschel Mission Object databases are particularly suitable
"The object database permits Manager, stationed at Noordwijk (The for managing complex and networked
direct and navigational access Netherlands). "Thus, instruments have to data structures. Once stored, the data
to the data. be monitored regularly and re-calibrated is more easily and quickly retrieved
as needed by ground personnel." compared to conventional database
We expect this to be reflected in systems. For example, cross-references
The satellite, whose orbit is near the Earth- and pointers are directly mapped in the
faster and better understanding
Sun Lagrange point L2, some 1.6 million database and greatly simplify data naviga-
of the instruments and to result kilometers from the Earth, is carrying the tion and queries. "The object database
in more efficient operation of the largest telescope ever flown: 3.5 meters in permits much more direct data access,"
satellite, which ultimately means diameter. On board are three highly sensi- says Dr. Riedinger.
more scientific information." tive scientific measurement instruments.
FASTER ANALYSIS – MORE SCIENCE
Dr. Johannes Riedinger "To ensure that the spacecraft and instru-
Mission Manager ments are operated near their optimum "Faster and better understanding of the
Herschel Science Center settings we need permanent feedback instrument data results in more efficient
from the Instrument Control Centers," operation of the satellite, which ultimately
adds Dr. Riedinger. On previous ESA means more and better scientific informa-
missions, the teams responsible for the tion."
Case Study | ESA | Space Technology
Faster and better analysis of instrument MAGNITUDE: GIGABIT AND TERABYTE
data is a significant improvement over
previous projects. The new system reduces Every day, the Herschel telescope collects
the time it takes to feed the improved an average of six to seven gigabit raw
parameter settings to Herschel´s on-board telemetry data and manages the data in
instruments for upcoming observations. an on-board storage facility. The data is
It also reduces the time required for the downloaded during a daily three hour
requested information from observations window to one of two satellite stations
to reach the astronomers. Ultimately, this on the ground, one being located north
will improve the scientific return from the of Perth, Australia, the other north of
mission. Madrid, Spain. From here the data is trans-
mitted to the ESA satellite control center VERSANT - HIGHLIGHTS
SEARCHING FOR HIDDEN STARS in Darmstadt, Germany, and forwarded
to the scientific control center in Madrid, • Versant Object Database
The Herschel team uses Versant´s object Spain. • object-oriented
database to manage telemetry data and • Java interface
observation programs recommended by Once having been decompressed, data is • direct access to data
astronomers. After the May 2009 launch stored in a Versant Object Database and • supports complex, networked data
Herschel started transmitting measure- replicated for use in the national Instru- • server queries
ment data to the ground operations ment Control Centers (ICCs) in Groningen • distributed databases
centers, providing the scientific commu- (The Netherlands), Garching (Germany) • terabyte databases
nity with many years‘ worth of research and Oxfordshire (UK).
data.
By the end of Herschel´s useful life of
The telescope collects far infrared and about 48 months, the Herschel Science
sub-millimeter light and is able to discover Archive will contain a minimum of
extremely cold objects which radiate 50 terabyte of data, which will be available
Herschel infrared image of a
reservoir of cold gas in the
constellation of the Southern
Cross.
That a dark, cool area such as
this would be bustling with
activity, was unexpected. The
images reveal a surprising
amount of turmoil: the inter-
stellar material is condensing
into continuous and intercon-
nected filaments glowing from
the light emitted by new-born
stars. European Space & Technology Centre
(ESTEC)
Photo: SRE-OAH, Keplerlaan 1,
(c) ESA / SPIRE consortium 2200 AG Noordwijk,
The Netherlands
no visible light and previously invisible to the scientific community – astronomers
objects that have been hidden by clouds and other interested parties - for analysis
of dust and gas. for another 20 years.
"The data enables astrophysicists all over INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE
the world to draw conclusions about
the creation of stars and galaxies and ESA will be able to supply any kind of data, Versant Corp.
will tell them more about the molecular for example images in different "colors" in Corporate Headquarters
composition of the universe," explains Dr. the infrared range or simply raw data. 255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 450,
Riedinger. Redwood City, CA 94065
Ph +1 650-232-2400
See more at: Fx +1 650-232-2401
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Herschel/index.html http://www.versant.com