The Analysis and Potential of High Reliability Organization Principles in NOAA Satellite Operations
- Paper number
IAC-19,B6,IP,10,x52167
- Author
Mr. Jason Long, United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Coauthor
Mr. John Vollmer, United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Year
2019
- Abstract
The launch and operation of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) in 2011, and the follow-on mission Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1), provided the Engineering and Mission Operations Support Services (EMOSS-V) contract engineers with valuable insight into the successes and weaknesses encountered when operating a typical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) satellite mission. The EMOSS Engineering Team extensively reviewed the lessons learned from the launches and operations of both missions to determine how improvements could be adapted, which compelled the team to research available methodologies for an improved operations model. Engineers discovered that High Reliability Organization (HRO) provided a best-fit framework that could be used to effectively manage the health and safety of OSPO satellites, and sustain performance needed for mission critical weather data and anomalous recovery procedures. This paper demonstrates the retroactive application of HRO principles of Safety Culture and Collective Mindfulness to the lessons learned for S-NPP and JPSS-1, and its potential benefits to current OSPO space operation techniques. In order to substantiate the application of these principles within all OSPO operations, and minimize the impact of the application, this approach can be applied to current mission operations for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a small mission that lends itself easily to a pilot program situation. Through this pilot program, the EMOSS engineers hope to determine what works best for all current OSPO operations, and illuminate how to improve upon and continue these processes in future NOAA satellite operations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,B6,IP,10,x52167.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.