Satellite propulsion modeling with ecosimpro: comparison between simulation and ground tests

¹ KopooS Consulting Ind. Paris, France
² Iberespacio Madrid, Spain
³ ESA-ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands
⁴ CNES Toulouse, France

Abstract

This paper documents the work performed for the implementation and validation of a satellite propulsion subsystem modeling library ESPSSv2.0 (European Space Propulsion System Simulation) within the existing tool EcosimPro^® and using test cases relevant for space applications. EcosimPro^® is a physical simulation modeling tool that is an object-oriented visual simulation tool capable of solving various kinds of dynamic systems represented by writing equations and discrete events. It can be used to study both steady states and transients. The object oriented tool, with the propulsion library allows, for example, the user to draw (and to design at the same time) the propulsion system with components of that specific library with tanks, lines, orifices, thrusters, and tees. The user enhances the design with components from the thermal library (heaters, thermal conductance, and radiators), from the control library (analogue/digital devices), from the electric library, etc.