Automating Deep Space Network scheduling and conflict resolution
Mark Johnston, Bradley J. Clement · 2005
ABSTRACT The missions supported by the DSN include all of The Deep Space Network (DSN) is a central part of NASA’s infrastructure for communicating with active space missions, from earth orbit to beyond the solar system. Consisting of more than a dozen major ground antennas at three sites spaced around the globe, it must be carefully scheduled to satisfy the requirements of the various mission users, subject to many constraints. We describe our recent work in modeling the complexities of user requirements, and then scheduling and resolving conflicts on that basis. We emphasize our innovative use of background “intelligent assistants ” that carry out search asynchronously while the user is focusing on various aspects of the schedule. These assistants can provide guidance to the user about feasible and optimal solutions to the problem they are working on. 1.