XTCE (for XML Telemetric and Command Exchange) is an

XML Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable ...

based

data exchange Data exchange is the process of taking data structured under a ''source'' schema and transforming it into a ''target'' schema, so that the target data is an accurate representation of the source data.A. Doan, A. Halevy, and Z. Ives.Principles of da ...

format for

spacecraft A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine designed to fly in outer space. A type of artificial satellite, spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, p ...

telemetry Telemetry is the in situ collection of measurements or other data at remote points and their automatic transmission to receiving equipment (telecommunication) for monitoring. The word is derived from the Greek roots ''tele'', "remote", an ...

and command

meta-data Metadata is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including: * Descriptive metadata – the descriptive ...

. Usin
XTCE
the format and content of a space systems command and telemetry links can be readily exchanged between spacecraft operators and manufacturers. XTCE was originally standardized by the OMG. In April 2007 the OMG released revision 1.1 of XTCE as an OMG available specification
Version 1.0
of the XTCE specification is a

CCSDS The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) was founded in 1982 for governmental and quasi-governmental space agencies to discuss and develop standards for space data and information systems. Currently composed of "eleven member agenc ...

br>green-book specification
and version 1.1 has been adopted as a

br>blue-book specification

Overview

During the entire ground system development and operation phases of a mission, telemetry and telecommand definitions may be exchanged between multiple systems and organizations. Without a standard format, databases need dedicated converters to convert between the various proprietary database formats and editors. Allowing for a common database exchange format throughout the entire mission lifecycle will significantly reduce the cost of database conversions that occur in many space projects. XTCE has been developed as part of an international cooperation involving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the

Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States. Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA an ...

, the Goddard Space Flight Center, the European Space Agency, the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

and private industry including RT Logic, Harris, SciSys,

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and p ...

and Lockheed Martin. The standards development effort has been coordinated via the

Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) was founded in 1982 for governmental and quasi-governmental space agencies to discuss and develop standards for space data and information systems. Currently composed of "eleven member agenc ...

and the

Object Management Group The Object Management Group (OMG) is a computer industry standards consortium. OMG Task Forces develop enterprise integration standards for a range of technologies. Business activities The goal of the OMG was a common portable and interoperab ...

. The XML Telemetry and Command Exchange standard is now in active use as a means to exchange mission databases improving interoperability while reducing mission readiness costs.

External links

XTCE home

References

*AIAA conference -

SpaceOps SpaceOps (also referred to as the International Committee on Technical Interchange for Space Mission Operations and Ground Data Systems) is an international committee organisation formed in 1992 to "promote and maintain an international community ...

2006, The XTCE Standardization approach of Telemetry and Command Databases - The ESA example: https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203552/http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMSPOPS06_1317/PV2006_5582.pdf *AIAA conference -

2006, Exchanging Databases with Dissimilar Systems using CCSDS XTCE: https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203413/http://pdf.aiaa.org/preview/CDReadyMSPOPS06_1317/PV2006_5801.pdf *CCSDS, MOIMS-SMC Working Group: http://cwe.ccsds.org/moims/docs/MOIMS-SMandC *GSAW conference - 2006, Exchanging Databases with Dissimilar Systems using CCSDS XTCE, https://web.archive.org/web/20060511171958/http://sunset.usc.edu:80/GSAW/gsaw2006/s2/merri.pdf *Aerospace Conference, 2004, XTCE: a standard XML-schema for describing mission operations databases *AIAA conference -

2006, A Model for a Spacecraft Operations Language, https://web.archive.org/web/20070929190020/http://www.rheagroup.com/AIAA-2006-5708-129.pdf
{{CCSDS Space standards XML Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems