Anthony Combe Email & Phone Number

Toulouse, Occitanie, Fr

Toulouse, Occitanie, France

• OrbitographyResponsible for Argos constellation orbitographyAnalysis of the Kinéis constellation orbitography• Localisation algorithms (Argos & AIS)Implementation of device localisation algorithms based on a Kalman filter (Extended KF with RTS smoother). Applied both to Argos devices and AIS (Automatic Identification System) devices.Developpement of a localisation service in Cloud-based distributed architecture: Used technologies: Python/numba, Redis databases, RabbitMQ message brokerDevelopment (Python) of a simulator generating localization measures from a mobile device (Frequency and Time of Arrival)

Toulouse Area, France

In the frame of the development of the new satellite-based augmentation system EGNOS V3, Airbus charged CS with the realization of the PCF (Prediction Chain Facility). The PCF is a subsystem where the computation of geolocalization signal errors takes place, both for GPS and Galileo constellations. Results are then formatted in short messages and broadcasted to end users, which benefits from a very accurate positioning, with a high level of reliability.I participate to this project as a GNSS engineer in charge of computation algorithms design, bringing my expertise in space mechanics, particularly in the field of orbit determination. My main tasks in this mission are:- Define high level specifications and break them into low level requirements for the system.- Design detailed algorithms to fulfill the requirements.- Determine tests and validation tools for these algorithms.- Manage a team of programmers that will implement the algorithms.- Ensure that strict coding rules and standards are respected.- Attend co-engineering meetings with the client (Airbus), and make design proposals.- Participate to system reviews.Technical environment:- Eclipse / C (Programming language)- Matlab/Scilab- Enterprise Architect

Toulouse Area, France

Along with the space mechanics department in CNES, I developed a new orbit control system for a constellation of 3 satellites, dedicated to earth observation. This control system has the objective of maintaining the spacecrafts close to each other (station-keeping), while respecting numerous constraints. Due to a very specific orbit, the relative dynamics between the satellites was very different from the usual known situations. In particular, the aerodynamic forces had to be precisely modelled. A lot of other studies and simulations were conducted, before defining a set of algorithms that will finally be implemented in the operation center. To sum-up, the following tasks were achieved:- Statistical analysis and experience feedback on station-keeping of a constellation of satellites previously operated.- Design of new station-keeping algorithms.- Development of a mock-up to test these algorithms by simulation (Scilab).- Station-keeping simulations on many different conditions, using a computer cluster.- Algorithms performance analysis.- In the frame of the simulations, a numerical orbit propagator had to be programmed (Java language), implementing a precise computation of aerodynamical forces. This force model uses a 3D representation of the spacecraft and takes into account its attitude: The lift and drag forces are computed on every facet of the satellite, also considering masking of satellite parts.- Assessment of orbit propagation errors due to solar activity prediction.- Study of relative free fall dynamics between two satellites in formation flying- Definition of technical requirements for the development of the final control software.- Follow-up of the algorithm implementation in the software, participation to tests and validation.

Toulouse Area, France

The ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) is a cargo spacecraft developed by the ESA, designed to supply the International Space Station. Five ATVs were successfully launched from 2008 to 2015. It was the largest vehicle visiting the ISS, carrying up to 8 tons of payload. I worked for two years in the ATV Control Center, located at the CNES, as an operator specialist of orbitography. The operations covered the launch phase until docking to the ISS (duration of about 2 weeks), the docked phase (several months), and the deorbitation phase (several days). The first months of my mission were dedicated to acquire an appropriate training for the operations, covering both technical aspects and simulations, often in degraded situations. This period ended with the official delivery of a qualification certificate as an ATV operator.My duties during operations covered the following tasks: - Orbit restitution (in real-time with Kalman filtering, offline with least square method), used for: accurate spacecraft localization, assessment of propulsion performance, drag force model calibration.- Detection of collision risks with space debris, and computation of avoidance maneuvers when necessary.- Nominal orbit propagation and associated dispersions.- Telemetry monitoring: Health status of accelerometers TM, GPS signal consistency.- Detection of abnormal behavior, and delivering of appropriate reaction in a limited time.- Work on shifts, ability to handle stressful situations, good communication with the team members.Besides operations, the following tasks were achieved: - Preparation of ATV flights: Tests and simulations (nominal and degraded scenarios) - Feedback on simulations and operations, post-analysis of telemetry. - Improvement and validation of operational procedures. - Operation software change validation.

Toulouse Area, France

• Maintenance and realization of operational procedures for the « Flight Dynamics » team (in charge of localizing and maneuvering the vehicle during operations)• Maintenance and improvement of a specific tool dedicated to the procedure execution and to the synchronization of the team’s operator (5 positions). Tool based on TCL/Tk language, linked to a database, featuring a client/server architecture.• Mission analysis study:o Preliminary computation of the ATV phasing with the ISS, computation of launch date and exact time.o Estimation of the trajectory dispersion due to the various maneuvers with a montecarlo analysis.o Validation of the phasing strategy with respect to the rendez-vous specifications.o Responsible of releasing the « Mission Opportunity Manifest », which help decision making and synchronization of ATV and ISS planning: Computation of ATV launch date opportunities, docking & undocking opportunities (constraints on ground station visibility and embedded sensors dazzling).o Validation of a strategy to simplify the positioning of manoeuvers during phasing (dispersion absorption manoeuvers). Successfully adopted on ATV4 and ATV5 flights.o Study of the strategy of a rendez-vous cancellation with return to nominal configuration within 24 hours (out-of-plane strategy), instead of 48 hours initially.• ATV Manning : Design of an Excel tool to generate the schedule for the 3 shifts involved in the flight dynamics team during operations. Constraints on working and resting time, daily and weekly. Necessity to foresee contingency and operational uncertainties.• Environnement : Windows/Unix, TCL/Tk, Scilab, Excel

Région De Toulouse , France

• Development/Improvement of the mission analysis software dedicated to Philae landing trajectory: Propagation model around « small bodies», Optimization of the descent trajectory, Monte-carlo analysis of the dispersions.• Utilization of the developed tool to produce a mission analysis document: Research of an optimized landing site considering a given comet body (Nelder-Mead and simplex methods)• Improvement of software quality: Computation of metrics, creation of non-regression tests.• Environment: Windows/Unix, Fortran, Visual Studio, Shell, Scilab.

Région De Toulouse , France

• Anomaly corrections on software dealing with space mechanics• Development of solutions in the frame of modification requests• Validation and creation of new non-regression tests• Preparation of delivery to the client.• Environment: Fortran, SVN

Région De Toulouse , France

• Performance analysis of GNC algorithms designed for formation flying• Development and improvement of telemetry analysis tool• Environment: Matlab/Simulink

Master’S Degree, Space Engineering

Specialized master in «Space Systems Engineering». Applied training on space engineering techniques. Emphasis on systems control (AOCS).

Master’S Degree, Industrial Engineering

Master in industrial engineering. Main fields of study: Production Management, Project Management, Continuous Improvement, Logistics.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Product Development, Manufacturing Strategy, Business Marketing, Product planning