Abstract:Satellite task scheduling is a core technique in the satellite ground system. Based on our practice of developing and managing the ground system of earth observing satellites (EOS) for years, we present a review of the recent developments on EOS task scheduling particularly from the viewpoint of engineering applications. The concepts of reliability, controllability and understandability are highlighted in the EOS task scheduling, as well as the significance of framework of task scheduling. We then study the technical challenges in practice, including emergency task scheduling, collaborative task scheduling of multiple systems, united task scheduling of the high and low orbits’ satellites, integrated task scheduling of low-orbit satellite networks, collaborative task scheduling of satellites and ground stations, applications of machine learning in task scheduling and so on. This work is ended in conclusions and prospects on the EOS task scheduling technology.