Transferring payload operations from one centre to another: the FSL case

Paper number

IAC-15,B6,3,12,x30986

Author

Ms. Nadia This, BIRA-IASB, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Alejandro Sela, Space Applications Services N.V., Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Alexander Karl, Space Applications Services N.V., Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Denis Van Hoof, Space Applications Services, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Lode Pieters, Space Applications Services (SAS), Belgium

Coauthor

Ms. Alice Michel, Belgian User Support and Operation Centre, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Etienne Haumont, BIRA-IASB, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Karim Litefti, BIRA-IASB, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Alejandro Diaz, Space Applications Services (SAS), Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Didier Moreau, Belgian User Support and Operation Centre, Belgium

Year

2015

Abstract

The Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) is a research facility installed in the European Columbus module of the International Space Station. It provides 70+ different diagnostics to insertable Experiment Containers (EC).  In the first 6 years of its operational life, FSL operations were managed by the Italian Microgravity Advanced Research and Support Center (MARS) following the European User Support and Operations Centre (USOC) concept. In 2014 however it was decided that the Belgian USOC (B.USOC) would take over the operations.\\

\noindent B.USOC has several years of experience in ISS operations with payloads covering, amongst others, solar science, technology demonstrations and educational activities. However fluid science is a field of expertise that was up to now not covered.  Combined with the complexity of the FSL facility, the hand-over posed quite some challenges.\\

\noindent One of the main problems is that instruments, facilities and operations of those evolve over time. Although ideally all details are documented at delivery of a payload, this documentation does not stay up to date for a long time. Anomalies are discovered during operational lifetime, operation strategies change etc. This results in deviations from the original set-up that are either documented on distributed platforms (anomaly reports, software upgrade documentation, technical notes…) or are not documented at all but become part of the experience gained by the operator, in which the operator himself might not even realize he has/uses certain knowledge. As B.USOC was taking over, it was important to make a consistent story of the information available and find a way to extract as much as possible from the MARS “hands-on” experience in order for B.USOC not to start from scratch.\\

\noindent The article will explain the difficulties encountered in this hand-over, the challenges B.USOC operators faced while preparing for operations in a new scientific discipline, and the lessons learned in the process.

Abstract document

IAC-15,B6,3,12,x30986.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,B6,3,12,x30986.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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