Optimization of Data Download Scheduling Problem for Multiple Satellites and Multiple Ground Stations using GRASP

This work addresses the data download scheduling problem obtained by multiple satellites to multiple ground stations, in a predefined planning horizon. The problem was solved using the GRASP methodology aiming to maximize the number of downloaded data, to attend the priority of those data and to ensure that the download would take place within the available visibility time-windows and the due time. This approach also considers that the download to a ground station can be performed by different satellites, or the same satellite can download to different ground stations, as long as a setup time is respected if the respective visibility time-windows overlap or are close. Furthermore, this work assumes that the download of the data stored on satellites can be done in packets with variable sizes to be defined by the optimization. GRASP was applied in some instances and was compared to the previous proposed methodology.