Mission Operations in Mission Operations in Small Satellite ProjectsSmall Satellite Projects

Making Mission Operations EffectiveMaking Mission Operations Effective

J. BurkertJ. BurkertColorado Space Grant ConsortiumColorado Space Grant Consortium

J. BurkertJ. Burkert

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IntroductionIntroduction

Need: Effective Mission OperationsNeed: Effective Mission Operations MotivationMotivation

Lessons Learned in 3CS, CX, and DINO Mission Lessons Learned in 3CS, CX, and DINO Mission OperationsOperations

ChallengesChallengesPersonnelPersonnel

TrainingTrainingExperienceExperienceTurn-overTurn-over

FundingFundingLittle or NoneLittle or None

Equipment & ToolsEquipment & ToolsNot Available, Poorly DesignedNot Available, Poorly Designed

ScheduleScheduleOrganizationOrganization

SolutionSolution:: The Road MapThe Road Map

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Characteristics of Small Characteristics of Small SatellitesSatellites

Few ObjectivesFew ObjectivesEarth Observation and Tech DemosEarth Observation and Tech Demos

Little or no redundancyLittle or no redundancyNano- or micro-satellitesNano- or micro-satellites

Dedicated Ground System and PersonnelDedicated Ground System and PersonnelFew ground stations and personnelFew ground stations and personnel

Low priority operationsLow priority operationsMission is not crucial to major projectsMission is not crucial to major projects

Low tempo operationsLow tempo operationsLow data rate, few major activitiesLow data rate, few major activities

Little FundingLittle Funding~ $100,000~ $100,000

Short ScheduleShort Schedule~1 – 2 years~1 – 2 years

Small TeamSmall TeamFewer than 100 people Fewer than 100 people

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MotivationMotivation Lessons from 3 CSGC MissionsLessons from 3 CSGC Missions

Citizen Explorer ICitizen Explorer I (Operations Team Lead)(Operations Team Lead)

Orbit: Sun-Synchronous at 705 kmOrbit: Sun-Synchronous at 705 kmScience: Ozone MeasurementScience: Ozone MeasurementStatus: Final Review in May 2005Status: Final Review in May 2005

3 Corner Sat3 Corner Sat (MCT Supervisor)(MCT Supervisor)

Orbit: ~ 200 km CircularOrbit: ~ 200 km CircularScience: ImagingScience: ImagingStatus: Lost on Launch (Dec 2004)Status: Lost on Launch (Dec 2004)

DINO DINO (Operations Team Lead) (Operations Team Lead)

Orbit: ~ISS OrbitOrbit: ~ISS OrbitScience: Tech Demo, Cloud TopographyScience: Tech Demo, Cloud TopographyStatus: No Longer FundedStatus: No Longer Funded

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Lessons and Lessons and ChallengesChallenges

OrganizationOrganization Incomplete or incorrect taskingIncomplete or incorrect tasking

ScheduleSchedule Incomplete or NonexistentIncomplete or Nonexistent

PersonnelPersonnel Training – Decreases Productive TimeTraining – Decreases Productive Time Experience – Undergraduates or GraduatesExperience – Undergraduates or Graduates Turn-over – Workforce varies by Turn-over – Workforce varies by semestersemester

FundingFunding Scarce – Can’t hire experience Scarce – Can’t hire experience

Equipment & ToolsEquipment & ToolsNot AvailableNot AvailablePoorly DesignedPoorly Designed

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Role of Mission Role of Mission OperationsOperations

Operational/Systems Level ViewpointOperational/Systems Level Viewpoint

Capability for Operational AnalysisCapability for Operational Analysis Concept DesignConcept Design

Operational Expectations Operational Expectations → Operational Objectives → → Operational Objectives → Operational Requirements → Spacecraft DesignOperational Requirements → Spacecraft Design

Mission PlanningMission PlanningHow Mission Objectives will be metHow Mission Objectives will be metWhen Objectives will be metWhen Objectives will be metWhat Objectives requireWhat Objectives requireCriteria for Objective SuccessCriteria for Objective Success

Evaluation of Project DeliverablesEvaluation of Project DeliverablesTakes place over entire project lifetimeTakes place over entire project lifetimeEvaluation of Subsystem hardware/software Evaluation of Subsystem hardware/software capabilitycapability

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The Road MapThe Road Map Provides Clarity!Provides Clarity! Resolves Challenges:Resolves Challenges:

Aids in Other Challenges through Aids in Other Challenges through Anticipation of Issue:Anticipation of Issue:

OrganizationalOrganizational SchedulingScheduling

ResponsibilityResponsibility Project-long Schedule of Project-long Schedule of activityactivity

ObjectivesObjectives Deliverables Deadlines Deliverables Deadlines and Definitionsand Definitions

FunctionsFunctions

PersonnelPersonnel FundingFunding Equipment & Equipment & ToolsTools

TurnoverTurnover How much?How much? What is needed?What is needed?

TrainingTraining When?When? When is it needed?When is it needed?

ExperienceExperience For What?For What?

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Road Map ComponentsRoad Map ComponentsProject PhasesProject Phases

ConceptionConceptionProject Concept DesignProject Concept DesignOperational ExpectationsOperational ExpectationsMission Objectives and RequirementsMission Objectives and Requirements

DesignDesignDetailed Subsystem DesignsDetailed Subsystem Designs

BuildBuildFabrication and Functional IntegrationFabrication and Functional Integration

TestTestRigorous Operational TestingRigorous Operational Testing

LaunchLaunchInitial InsertionInitial InsertionSpacecraft Certification for Nom. Ops.Spacecraft Certification for Nom. Ops.

Nominal OperationsNominal OperationsMeeting the Mission Objectives!Meeting the Mission Objectives!

End of LifeEnd of LifeSpacecraft DecommissioningSpacecraft Decommissioning

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Road Map ComponentsRoad Map ComponentsMission Operations FunctionsMission Operations Functions

  Responsibilities Inputs Outputs

1Systems Requirements

Specification

Devises and inspects Systems/Subsystems

Specs and Objectives

Project Expectations

Detailed Project/ Subsystem

Requirements and Mission Objectives

2Ground Software

DesignDevises GSW Design

Project Expectations

Detailed GSW Design

3 Mission Simulation

Ensuring that Subsystems Specs

yield functional product

Detailed Mission Specs

Operation-level analysis

4Failure Modes & Effects Analysis

Failure Modes and Effects Analysis

Subsystem design, System design

FMEA Documentation

& Implementation

5 Analytical Support

Providing systems-level analysis to other

subsystems for design and test

efforts

System/Subsystem Analysis Requests

Analysis Results

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Road Map ComponentsRoad Map Components Mission Operations Functions Mission Operations Functions (cont.)(cont.)

  Responsibilities Inputs Outputs

6 Mission Planning

Operations Management,

detailed mission timelines

Normal Mission Operations

Requirements and System

Capabilities

Detailed Timelines,

Procedures & Resource Schedules

7Activity Planning &

DevelopmentGround and S/C

SchedulingAbnormal Situations

Certified and Tested Solutions

8 Mission ControlConsole Operations – Monitoring S/C H&S, Routine Maintenance

S/C and Simulator Telemetry, Command Requests

Daily S/C Status Reports, S/C Commands

9 Data ServicesGathering, Managing,

and Distributions Mission Data

S/C Telemetry, Mission Data

Products

Accessible Database of Telemetry,

Mission Data Products

10 Navigation S/C On-orbit Navigation

Navigation Requirements

Navigation Maneuvers

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  Responsibilities Inputs Outputs

11 Attitude Control S/C On-orbit Attitude Control (as necessary)

S/C and Instrument

Pointing Requirements

Attitude Maneuvers

12Spacecraft & Payload

OperationsS/C-specific Bus and Payload Operations

Bus & Payload Engineering Data

Operations, Anomaly

Responses, Command Requests

13Mission Assurance &

Risk Mitigation

Meeting Objectives while Minimizing risk

to S/C

Proposed Activities and Improvements

Approval & Recommendations

14Operator Training &

Certification

Obtaining, Training, and Certifying Mission

Operators

Untrained Personnel

Certified Operators,

Training Materials, Certification

Critieria

Road Map ComponentsRoad Map Components Mission Operations Functions Mission Operations Functions (cont.)(cont.)

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Road Map ComponentsRoad Map ComponentsSchedule of FunctionsSchedule of Functions

  Conception Design Build Test LaunchNominal

OperationsEnd of

Life

Systems Requirements Specification

X X          

Ground Software Design   X X        

Mission Simulation   X   X X X X  

Failure Modes & Effects Analysis

  X X X X X  

Analytical Support X X X X X X X

Mission Planning X X  X X X X X

Activity Planning & Development

      X X X X

Mission Control        X X X  X

Data Services       X X X X

Navigation       X X X X

Attitude Control       X X X X

Spacecraft & Payload Operations

      X X X X

Mission Assurance & Risk Mitigation

X X X X X X X

Operator Training & Certification

      X X X X

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ConclusionsConclusions

Identifiable Need for Clarity in the Role and Identifiable Need for Clarity in the Role and Function of Mission OperationsFunction of Mission Operations

Defined Objectives & Requirements allow:Defined Objectives & Requirements allow: Directed, Structured Directed, Structured AnalyticalAnalytical Effort Effort Directed, Structured Directed, Structured DesignDesign Effort Effort Determination of Mission Operations ScheduleDetermination of Mission Operations Schedule

Proper Schedule allows:Proper Schedule allows: EffectivenessEffectiveness EfficiencyEfficiency Anticipation of NeedsAnticipation of Needs

Mission Operations Functions Definition allow:Mission Operations Functions Definition allow: Clarity in role of Mission Operations in larger project over the Clarity in role of Mission Operations in larger project over the

project lifetimeproject lifetime