Intelligent software tools for enhanced spacecraft payload ground operations
Robert C. DaLee, Amanda Rice, Mark Rogers, Robert C. DaLee, Amanda Rice, Mark Rogers · 1997
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has been funding development of intelligent software applications for Spacelab payload ground operations over the past four years. Realizing that continuing fiscal pressures will demand significant changes in the current approach to payload operations, these smart software applications provide a mechanism to reduce the direct manpower needed to effectively manage long term payload operations such as that required on the International Space Station (ISS). Recent deployments at the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) have demonstrated the benefits of intelligent software systems for Spacelab real-time telemetry monitoring and commanding. The Operations Execution Assistant (OEA) tool serves the Operations Controller (OC) team and concentrates on monitoring Spacelab subsystem and selected experiment telemetry for fault detection and notification. The SmartDMC tool aids the Data Management team by watching for problems in the telemetry data flow path originating in Spacelab and culminating in the HOSC. The EXPRESS Rack operations tool enables the EXPRESS Operations Controller (EOC) to monitor EXPRESS subsystem telemetry, uplink commands to EXPRESS, and reconfigure the EXPRESS rack, via the ground software application, to replicate its on-orbit reconfiguration performed by the crew. Finally, an intelligent training simulator is being developed for the Space Station Furnace Facility (SSFF) project. Projected benefits and cost savings resulting from the development and deployment of these tools are discussed along with tool migration ideas for future payload operations at MSFC in the Space Station era.