Logging Standards: What to Capture Every Pass

Logging is the permanent memory of ground station operations, preserving what actually happened long after a satellite pass has ended. While real-time monitoring supports immediate decisions, logs enable accountability, troubleshooting, performance analysis, and continuous improvement. In ground station environments, many failures are intermittent, context-dependent, or only visible in hindsight. Without consistent and well-structured logs, operators are forced to reconstruct events from fragments or rely on anecdotal explanations. Logging standards define what must be captured every pass so that no critical information is lost, regardless of whether an incident occurred. These standards are not about collecting everything, but about collecting the right information with enough context to be useful later. This page explains what to log during every satellite pass, why each category matters, and how logging supports operations, analytics, and trust. The focus is on practical, repeatable logging practices rather than ad hoc record keeping.

Why Pass-Level Logging Matters
Core Principles of Effective Logging
Pass Identification and Context
Antenna and Pointing Logs
RF Chain and Signal Logs
Modem and Link Performance Logs
Network and Backhaul Logs
Environmental and Facilities Logs
Log Structure, Retention, and Analytics
Logging Standards FAQ
Glossary

Why Pass-Level Logging Matters

Satellite passes are discrete operational events, each with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Logging at the pass level ensures that all relevant data can be correlated to a specific operational window. Without this structure, logs become a continuous stream that is difficult to interpret after the fact. Pass-level logging allows operators to compare performance across passes, identify degradation trends, and isolate anomalies. It also supports contractual and regulatory reporting by providing objective records of service delivery. When issues arise, pass logs allow teams to answer not just what failed, but when and under what conditions. Consistent pass-level logging turns operations into a measurable process. Ground stations without it operate largely on intuition.

Core Principles of Effective Logging

Effective logging follows a few essential principles regardless of subsystem. Logs must be complete enough to support diagnosis, but not so verbose that critical information is buried. Timestamps must be accurate and synchronized across systems to enable correlation. Logs should be structured and machine-readable, allowing automated analysis and search. Human readability still matters for rapid investigation under pressure. Logging should be consistent across passes so that comparisons are meaningful. Finally, logs must be reliable, continuing to capture data even during partial system failures. Logging standards formalize these principles into repeatable practice.

Pass Identification and Context

Every pass log should begin with clear identification and context metadata. This includes satellite identifier, pass start and end times, ground station identifier, antenna used, and mission or customer reference. Orbital parameters or pass geometry summaries provide additional context for performance analysis. Configuration snapshots, such as frequency plans, modulation schemes, and power settings, should be captured at pass start. Changes during the pass must be logged explicitly with timestamps. This context allows logs to stand alone without requiring reconstruction from external systems. Clear pass identification prevents ambiguity during later review.

Antenna and Pointing Logs

Antenna logs capture the physical behavior of the system during the pass. Key data includes commanded and actual azimuth and elevation, tracking error, and drive status. Events such as stow commands, limit hits, or tracking mode changes must be recorded. Motor current, speed, and temperature provide insight into mechanical stress. Wind-related restrictions or overrides should be logged with reason codes. Antenna logs explain many RF anomalies that would otherwise appear mysterious. Physical motion is a critical part of pass behavior and must be logged accordingly.

RF Chain and Signal Logs

RF logs document how signals were generated, amplified, and received during the pass. Transmit power levels, gain states, and temperature of active RF components should be recorded. Receive-side metrics such as noise floor, C/N, or system temperature provide insight into link margin. RF switching events, filter selections, and redundancy changes must be logged explicitly. Spectrum-related events, including detected spurs or interference, should be captured with timestamps. RF logs create an auditable record of signal integrity and compliance. They are essential for post-pass RF analysis and dispute resolution.

Modem and Link Performance Logs

Modem logs describe the digital interpretation of the RF link. Lock status, acquisition time, modulation and coding state, and symbol rate should be logged for every pass. Error metrics such as BER, PER, and frame loss reveal link quality over time. Buffer levels and throughput indicate whether downstream systems kept pace. Timing and frequency offset logs support synchronization analysis. Alarm events and recoveries provide narrative structure to the pass. Modem logs often bridge the gap between RF behavior and user-visible performance.

Network and Backhaul Logs

Network logs capture how data moved beyond the ground station during the pass. Link state changes, routing events, and failovers must be recorded with precise timing. Performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss should be logged at pass-relevant granularity. VPN or tunnel status logs are essential where encryption overlays are used. Queue drops or congestion events explain delayed or lost data delivery. Network logs often explain why a good RF pass still resulted in poor end-to-end performance. Backhaul behavior is inseparable from pass success.

Environmental and Facilities Logs

Environmental and facilities logs provide critical context that explains cross-subsystem behavior. Wind speed, gusts, temperature, humidity, and precipitation during the pass should be recorded. Power events, UPS state changes, generator activity, and cooling system status add operational insight. Facility alarms that coincide with pass anomalies are often root causes rather than side effects. Even when no incident occurs, environmental logs support trend analysis and predictive maintenance. These logs connect physical reality to system performance. Ignoring them leaves analysis incomplete.

Log Structure, Retention, and Analytics

Logs must be structured to support both immediate investigation and long-term analytics. Standardized formats and consistent field naming enable automated correlation and search. Retention policies should reflect regulatory, contractual, and operational needs, with longer retention for aggregated or summarized data. Pass-level aggregation simplifies reporting and comparison. Analytics tools should be able to reconstruct a pass timeline from logs alone. Poorly structured logs lose value quickly, regardless of volume. Logging standards ensure data remains usable over time.

Logging Standards FAQ

Should logs be captured even when everything works? Yes. Successful passes provide the baseline needed to identify degradation and justify operational confidence.

Is more logging always better? No. Logs should capture meaningful state and events; excessive noise reduces clarity and increases storage burden.

How often should logging standards be reviewed? Standards should be reviewed after incidents, system upgrades, and mission changes to remain relevant.