The Interoperability Plenary Meeting was held at ESA
Headquarters on 21-22 June 1999. During the 1 1/2 day
meeting, representatives from seven international space
agencies met to discuss and agree on the need for increased
interoperability and the method for its implementation.
Prior to the Plenary meeting, a survey and individual
discussions had determined that the focus should be ground
system interoperability.
The Agenda provided an opportunity for each agency to
report:
- Past interoperability mission experience - both
positive and negative.
- The need for interoperability in the context of that
agency's future missions.
- The specific assets of the agency to be made
interoperable.
- Current status and plans to implement interoperable
standards.
Early in these summary presentations, it became apparent
that this group's common goal was to establish ground system
interoperability with other agencies at the earliest
feasible time. The remainder of the time was spent in
determining how best to achieve that goal.