The XMM Simulator -- The Technical Challenges

H. Côme & M. Irvine

The XMM satellite will be launched in August 1999 and a simulator has been developed to test and validate the supporting ground segment. Due to the very tight schedule and the high fidelity of the modelling required, this development effort has provided numerous unique challenges. This article details these challenges and the approaches that have been taken in meeting them, as well as the simulator’s architecture and current status.