Columbus Desktop Trainer: An Alternative Solution to Operations Training
Jamie Denniston · SpaceOps 2012 Conference · 2012
Simulators have long been established as one of, if not the, most important tools in the training of spacecraft operations staff. They have become vital in preparing new staff for work on console, and formal simulations are generally an essential step in becoming certified. On top of this, simulators are now being used for an increasingly large number of other tasks: new procedure validation, testing of new database deliveries, implementation and testing of derived telemetry parameters, testing of ground software updates, ie. new synoptic displays, and of course the simulations regularly carried out by certified staff both in preparation of onboard activities and to ensure that a high level of experience is preserved. This growing demand often results in constraints on the training process and scheduling difficulties for the use of the simulator. The traditional philosophy behind a simulator delivery, one or two instances accessible in a control room along with other ground software, is struggling to meet the needs of the various users. As well as scheduling the simulator itself, acquiring the necessary control room and the support staff can also be difficult, since checkpointing and configuration frequently require a specialist. Our group has envisaged and developed an alternative but complimentary solution known as the