Ground segment
The Microscope ground segment is composed of three entities:
A Command-Control Ground Segment: MIGS (MIcrosatellite Ground Segment) which, for the operational phase, will be composed of three main parts:
- A Command-Control Centre (CCC). This component comprises a nominal centre and a back-up centre.
- A 2-GHz Telemetry and TeleCommand Earth Terminal (TTCET).
- A Data Communication Network (DCN).
A Drag Compensation Expertise Centre (CECT), which is the core element of Microscope operations. It has a dual role encompassing satellite functions contributing directly to the science mission and Microscope's specific operational activities: programming in association with the SMC (see below), generation of telecommands for the instrument and the SCAA, attitude and orbit determination, and calculation of the remaining cold gas.
A Microscope Scientific Mission Centre (SMC), in charge of instrument telecommand preparation, optimization of instrument operations, and science data processing, archiving and delivery. It was developed under ONERA's responsibility in collaboration with the Géoazur laboratory (Côte d'Azur Observatory and CNRS) for the processing software.
