Improving the Situational Awareness of Flight Control Teams Through Semi-Autonomous Applications
- Paper number
IAC-07-D1.2.09
- Author
Mr. Daniel Gillies, United Space Alliance, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
NASA’s ambitious schedule leading up to the completion of the Space Shuttle Program has resulted in a concentrated focus on resource management. The obvious nature of the space program requires obtaining the maximum output from constrained inputs of time, personnel, and budget. For the Space Shuttle Program these constraints are tightened by the rigorous schedule of the program. In upcoming programs, such as the Crew Exploration Vehicle, a desire to optimize the size of the flight control team results in similar constraints. Both scenarios dictate that flight controllers take on increased levels of responsibility, where maintaining a high level of situational awareness becomes more difficult, yet increasingly important.
In an effort to sustain and improve situational awareness, semi-autonomous software applications are being developed and implemented to ensure mission operations are able to continue smoothly during the transition period between Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and Crew Exploration Vehicle programs at NASA. As a case study, semi-autonomous tools currently in use and in development for the Wing Leading Edge Support (WLES) Multi-Purpose Support Room (MPSR) position are discussed in relation to future mission operations concepts. The advantage of partial vs. full autonomy in manned space flight operations is presented, based on traditional flight control concepts of keeping an operator in the loop. These systems retain the ‘common sense’ logic that only a human operator can contribute. The advantage of an in-house development process through United Space Alliance personnel at Johnson Space Center, including the evolution of the software in the dynamic field of space operations is also presented. Lastly, United Space Alliance’s experience from the development and implementation of semi-autonomous software is applied to applications foreseen in the future of commercial and government space mission operations. Such experience further enables United Space Alliance to apply these technologies in providing high quality products in the mission operations environment.
Copyright © 2007 by United Space Alliance, LLC. These materials are sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Contract NAS9-20000 and Contract NNJ06VA01C. The U.S. Government retains a paid-up, nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in such materials to reproduce, prepare, derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the U.S. Government. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-D1.2.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.