ESA Science & Technology - Venus Express Science Planning and Commanding

Publication date: 02 November 2007

Authors: Koschny, D., et al.

Journal: ESA Special Publication
Volume: SP 1295
Page: 1-13
Year: 2007

Copyright: ESA

The Venus Express Science Operations Centre (VSOC) has the task of defining and performing, under the direct responsibility of the Project Scientist, the science operations for the mission. VSOC ensures that all the science objectives can be fulfilled within the operational constraints. This paper focuses on the planning and commanding activities, and provides an overview of the VSOC activities, outlines its architecture down to the hardware level, and summarises the science planning process. The data-handling and archiving are dealt with in a companion paper.