PERSONAL INFORMATION

Sex F | Date of birth 07/02/1983 | Nationality

personal statement

Payload engineer responsible for routine operations and operations preparation  for new satellite missions and recurrent satellites – Imaging chain system role – Skilled in top-down bottom-up processes including requirements definition, design implementation and validation up to routine operations and maintenance – Experienced in SVT, launcher integration campaign and checkout testing, LEOP, commissioning and satellite handover.

WORK EXPERIENCE

2015 – present

MTG Spacecraft Operations Preparations Engineer (SOPE)

Consultant for Jade Aerospace GmbH, LSE Space GmbH and CLC Space GmbH, Germany

SOPE for the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) geostationary satellites responsible for MTG-I and MTG-S instruments. Prime engineer in this role for the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI),   the Ultra-violet Visible and Near-infrared (UVN) sounder, respectively prime instrument of MTG-I and Sentinel-4 payload on MTG-S.  Backup engineer for the MTG-I Lightning Imager (LI) and MTG-S Infra-Infra-Red Sounder (IRS).

Activities performed:

Analysis of mission design and requirements and the identification of constraints related to operability at system level (interfaces, commandability and data stream).

Definition of the baseline for routine/periodic nominal operations for FCI and S-4 UVN; backup in this function for LI and IRS.

Review of MTG spacecraft and payload documentation in support of project milestones and discussions with industry (e.g. Flight Operations Manuals (FOM) and procedures, instrument design documents, Software System Specification documents, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), technical budgets, etc.).

Review of Requests for Deviation (RFD) from mission requirements applicable to end users and system. Depending on the violated requirement, interfacing with technical expert to identify operational impact on validation and verification test during commissioning and eventual operational optimisation during routine phase, e.g. interfacing with remote sensing and products (RSP) scientist in order to identify instrument test configuration to verify deviation to FCI Channel-to-channel crosstalk.

Definition and development of Offline Functions and Tools (OFTs) focused on instrument needs in view of implications/constraints related to routine and commissioning operations.

Analysis of the operational system and End User requirements compared to foreseen operational approach as defined in-flight operational manuals and investigation on ground segment layout.

Analysis of satellite lifetime activities in order to estimate off-line support from ground during different mission phases (commissioning, routine, end of life, relocation, in-orbit-storage, including investigation for next generation mission).

Coordination of cross-divisional discussions to identify solutions for the implementation of on-ground support to instrument operations for the identified operational needs.

Investigation on feasibility and definition of interfaces and data stream between Mission Operations Facility (MOF) and Multi-Mission Environment (MME) and input/output data format compatible with the Mission Control System (MCS).

Definition of preliminary requirements for development/enhancement of the MOF / Flight Dynamics System (FDS) and MME OFTs in the frame of support to Payload calibration/characterisation activities and planning: liaising with Flight Dynamics (FD), MTG programme development (GEO) and Remote Sensing and Processing (RSP) divisions.

Following standard processes in support of change requests (CR), including producing technical documentation, organising and chairing cross-divisional engineering forums to obtain endorsement from MTG system and programme. For the MOF/FDS augmentation for MTG payload calibration/characterisation support, endorsement was obtained and augmentation will be implemented as part of CR11. The OFT Scan Planning Tool (SPT) was also endorsed. The responsibility of its development is under MTG programme, to which I am providing support.

Proposing solutions and generating relevant documentation to provide consolidated background information to the formal process of update for the MTG system level specifications (i.e.  MTG Operations Concept Document [OPSCON], Operations Baseline Requirements Document [OBRD], System Requirements Document [SRD]…) and flow down to Ground Segment level specifications as relevant via Document Change request (DCR), Requirement Consolidation Meeting (RCM)  and Change Control Board (CCB) process.

Supporting MTG commissioning, including: attendance to meetings for Calibration Validation (CalVal) plan liaising with RSP division to understand needs and defining operational solutions for dedicated test to characterise instrument radiometric, spectral and geometric performance; attendance to In-Orbit Verification (IOV) meetings to discuss tests at system level, liaising with the Instrument Functional Chain Team (IFCT), GEO system and ESA/TAS.

Supporting design/requirements definition of the Instrument Parameter and Scan Scenario Repository (IPSSR) tool and generating associated technical note. Interfacing with IFCT,   System Engineering and Projects Division (SEP), GEO and Image Data Processing Facility (IDPF).

Supporting IFCT in the definition of the detector monitoring strategy providing relevant operation inputs.

Packet Utilisation Standard (PUS) Service analysis. Implementing the MTG PUSUSE document (description of the MTG PUS operational usage) with the outcome of the analysis conducted on the impact of usage of instrument-dedicated services on the Mission Operation Facility (MOF) for telecommand/telementry (TC/TM) management. Identifying needs for On-Board Software Management (OBSM) dedicated function for instrument specific memory management PUS subtypes. Supporting definition of auxiliary data packets.

Supporting development of the Satellite Simulator (SATSIM) and reviewing requirements and compliancy to expectations for System Validation Tests (SVT) and routine operations. Investigation of the use of the SATSIM and implication on requirements for the use of the simulator for validation of operational mission scenarios, in support of special operations to be conducted primarily during commissioning.

Key role in the investigation for the use and implementation of PUS service 190 for extra-large data transfer (XLDT) dedicated to MTG mission scenario uplink/downlink.

Review of Failure Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) and Failure Modes Effect Analysis (FMEA). Analysing satellite monitoring and control management to identify on-ground implementation for FDIR monitoring and investigation.

Procedure review for FCI and UVN, including dedicated reviews for SVT and procedure update/generation.

Business or sector  Flight Operations / Space segment

2010 – 2015

MSG Spacecraft Operations Engineer (SOE)

Consultant for Serco Services GmbH, Germany

SOE for the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellites with the main role of prime engineer for the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) and backup engineer for the Mission Communication Payload (MCP) and Telemetry Tracking and Control (TTC) subsystems.  Activities for MSG focussed on:

Support to system operations mainly in the area of imaging and ground segment communication operations including satellite control system, ground station engineering, flight dynamics, image processing, product generation and dissemination.

Imaging Chain System role supporting solving of imaging related anomalies with Image Processing Facility (IMPF) and Central Facility (CF), providing SEVIRI level expertise.

Maintenance of the automated/manual procedures and TM database as to guarantee nominal functioning and service of the instruments and satellite, including development, test and validation against the simulator.

Maintenance of operational guideline documents such as the MSG Spacecraft Operations Engineers Guide and MSG Spacecraft Contingency Operations Guide (COG).

Operations preparation (OpsPrep) of MSG3 and MSG4 supporting to the SVT (System Validation Tests) as SEVIRI expert.

Support and coordination of Test Readiness Reviews (TRR)/Test Review Boards (TRB), Engineering Change Requests (ECR), Configuration Change Requests (CCR) and Engineering Change Proposals (ECP).

Reviewer of the MSG System Commissioning Image Verification and Validation (IVV) Test Specification, actively adapting image processing testing requirements to operational requirements. Supporting commissioning of the Imaging Facility (IMPF) for image processing and generation of meteorological products for MSG3 and MSG4.

Supporting LEOP (Launch and Early Orbit Phase) Service Provider (SP) Simulation Campaign at ESOC (European Space Operation Centre) for the LEOP of MSG3 and MSG4.

Mission Control Team member supporting LEOP activities as instrument expert for MSG3 and MSG4.

Leading operations for instrument commissioning tests CalVal and IVV.

Involvement and engagement in external technical meetings with satellite manufacturer (e.g., SATMAN, progress and anomaly meetings with Thales Alenia Space, etc.) to support the procurement process and review operational issues and on-going anomaly workarounds including evaluation of inputs from industry.

Coordinating special operations including dedicated schedules for 2.5 min and 10 min scanning (investigation in support of future MTG operations) and Moon scanning in cooperation with FD and RSP divisions (documented in the SpaceOps Conference paper, refer to publications).

Performance evaluation and trend analysis together with implementation of  smart solutions to increase/simplify the monitoring of critical parameters relevant to aged satellites (such as potentiometer parameters revealing pointing accuracy or Solar Aspect Angle driving seasonal operational settings for the instrument calibration) and integrating them into routine operations.

Supporting discussions with the European delegates as part of the of the STG-OPS WG (Scientific and Technical Group Operations Working Group) meetings. Performing well received presentations synthesising topics, constraints and identified strategies in support to SEVIRI High Resolution Visible (HRV) window configuration for MSG 0° mission and Indian Ocean Data Coverage (IODC) mission.

Incident Analysis team (IAT) coordinator and incident review board (IRB) member: following root cause analysis, identifying long-term operational approaches and contingency strategies, coordinating and evaluating of inputs from the industry, producing reports for internal and external use, coordinating activities for optimisation of payload operations including evaluation of the implications at system level.

Performing yearly analysis of instrument performance, supporting lifetime assessment and providing recommendations, reviewing requirements against performance and assessing the impact on routine operations and imaging service.

Business or sector  Flight Operations / Space segment

2008 – 2009

Spacecraft Engineer

Deimos Imaging S.L., Boecillo (Valladolid), Spain

Spacecraft engineer responsible for the Flight Segment of the LEO satellite Deimos-1. Main duties:

Writing of the Flight Operation Procedures (FOP) for the Deimos-1 in close collaboration with the manufacturer industry Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) covering spacecraft operations for nominal/routine and contingency activities.  FOP realised analysing subsystems and mission drivers. Managing the interfaces between software and ground/flight segments for commanding.

Analysis of the capture capability of the Deimos-1 in accordance with contract requirements and planning for future activities.

Merging the Fortran algorithm for the Fight Dynamics System (FDS) with the Swath Acquisition Viewer (Savoir) tool in support of the analysis of the capability of the spacecraft to acquire different areas of the Earth, while and respecting at the same time the mandatory constraint of scanning Spain on weekly basis and other areas of customer countries;

Supporting the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) as operations responsible assessing Deimos-1 readiness to fly.

Participating to the Deimos-1 launch campaign in Bajkonur (Kazakhstan), supporting launch site checkout tests of the spacecraft subsystems whose successful accomplishment led to the integration of the Deimos-1 inside the Space Head Module (SHM).

Launch team member supporting LEOP operations from the ground station of Boecillo together with the SSTL project team.

Ground segment backup engineer, actively operating with the ground segment team during nominal operations to share knowledge and providing support in case of emergency.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

February – August 2007

Trainee at ESA/ESOC

ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany

Traineeship at the ESA/ESOC Ground Segment Operations and Signal Processing (OPS-GSS) division. Activities focussed on:

Requirements Engineering – Analysis of the Delta-Differential One-way Ranging (ΔDOR) data to determine the angular position of Rosetta during its fly-by to Mars.

Optimisation of the technique itself via modification of the FORTRAN scripts running on the Correlator machine and developing the tool DOSP (Delta-DOR Optimum Sequence Planner) in Matlab providing the optimum interval to acquire the spacecraft by the ground station with respect to the spacecraft elevation and the quasar correlated flux in order to improve communication operation strategy.

October 2005 – May 2008

Master degree in Astronautic Engineering

Sapienza Università di Roma, “Scuola di Ingegneria Aerospaziale”, Italy

Design and operation of space missions

Mission analysis

Orbital and attitude dynamics

Space telecommunication and tracking systems

October 2001 – July 2005

Bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering

Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy

Aerospace structures

Dynamics of space structures

Smart materials applications

Aerodynamics

Propulsion systems

Flight mechanics

PERSONAL SKILLS

Mother tongue(s)

Italian

Other language(s)

UNDERSTANDING

SPEAKING

WRITING

Listening

Reading

Spoken interaction

Spoken production

English

C2

C2

C2

C2

C2

Spanish

C1

C1

C1

C1

B2

German

B1

B1

B1

B1

B1

French

B1

B1

B1

B1

B1

Levels: A1/A2: Basic user - B1/B2: Independent user - C1/C2 Proficient user

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Communication skills

Excellent ability to synthesise complicated technical concepts complementing verbal communications demonstrated primarily through efficient presentations to vast number of audiences.

Excellent ability to adapt to foreign and multicultural environment, gained through working experiences in international corporations.

Engagement in team work (often multi-disciplinary teams and Entities such as Industry and ESA) with the aim of succeeding in a common achievement.

Excellent ability in interfacing with the costumer demonstrated during OpsPrep, LEOP campaigns and commissioning (interfacing with TAS, ESA, AIRBUS, LDO, SSTL) and during STG and SWG meetings (interfacing with European delegates).

Due diligence with an engineering mind-set.

Organisational / managerial skills

Excellent ability in organizing and coordinating people and activities involving various tasks, multi-disciplinary teams and facilities gained working in the operations field in European international organizations.

Job-related skills

Extensive experience in supporting and performing Verification and Validation (e.g. IOV, IVV) and System Validation tests (SVT) specific to optical instruments (SEVIRI, FCI, IRS);

Supporting LEOP and Commissioning operations specific for the payload (SEVIRI, FCI) for recurrent and new missions (MSG, MTG);

Contributing to the evaluation of in-flight instrument performance through dedicated procedures and tests as part of special activities during operational phase and commissioning.

Excellent interface with IFCT for MTG related topics.

Excellent experience in the support to definition of preliminary design and specifications for off-line tools (e.g. SPT, IPSSR).

Longstanding experience in interfacing with industry (TAS, AIRBUS, OHB) and ESA.

Excellent experience in quality control processes including management of changes and anomalies ensuring adherence to plans, working practices and procedures, including Test Readiness Reviews and Test Review Boards (TRR/TRB), Configuration Change Requests (CCR), Enhancement  Change Requests (ECR), Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), Incident and Anomaly management processes;

Good knowledge of IBM Rational DOORS for the traceability of system level requirements and operations concept;

Direct and longstanding working experience in international space programmes;

Direct and longstanding experience in routine operations and operations preparation for geostationary satellite systems and development projects.

Good Knowledge of SCOS developed in ESOC and EUMETSAT during simulation campaigns, LEOPs, and SVTs.

Deep knowledge of APEX (on-line and off-line) matured over the years coding and executing procedures, handling anomalies and creating special configurations for instrument critical commanding.

Good knowledge of OBSM (On-Board Software Maintenance) for memory management of Platform and Payload.

Imaging system chain role including spacecraft commanding, data processing and product dissemination;

Excellent analysis, synthesis and presentation skills.

Digital skills

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Information processing

Communication

Content creation

Safety

Problem solving

Proficient User

Proficient User

Independent User

Proficient User

Proficient User

Levels: Basic user  - Independent user  -  Proficient user

Digital competences - Self-assessment grid

Excellent command of the office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software) gained in current and previous role.

Good command of LX-OpenOffice and LaTeX gained during university.

Good command of the tool DOORS for the traceability of system level requirements and operations concept gained during current role.

As user of the TCE (Technical Computing Environment), I have good knowledge of the Linux environment.

Good coding skills in Matlab gained during university and working experience.

Good command of photo editing software (photoshop, gimp) gained in current role using graphic images and videos to generate clear and powerful presentations.

Other skills

Member of the ESOC theatre group since 2011 (http://www.esoctheatre.org/active-actors-directory/claudia-tranquilli);

Member of ski and tennis clubs;

Passion for sailing, arts/design.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Publications

“The In-orbit Performance of the Meteosat Second Generation SEVIRI Instruments”, P. Pili, L. Matheson, C. Tranquilli, J. Müller, T. Hewison, S. Carlier, S. Bianchi, P. Coste

 “Meteosat SEVIRI performance characterisation and calibration with dedicated Moon/Sun/Deep-space scans”, C. Tranquilli, B. Viticchiè, S. Pessina

“The Test of the ESA Delta-DOR Correlator”, M. Mercolino, P. Racioppa, C. Tranquilli

“The Use of the ΔDOR Observables in the Orbit Determination of the Space Probes Rosetta and Mars Express”, (Master degree thesis (2008))

“Dynamic Analysis of a Space Structure” (Bachelor degree thesis (2005))

Conferences

EUMETSAT 2016 - Meteorological Satellite Conference, Darmstadt, Germany

14th International Conference on Space Operations 2016 in Daejeon, Republic of Korea

ESA TT&C Conference 2007, ESOC, Darmstadt