SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Mission Control”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Supply and Resource Management to Progressively Enable EIMO

BACKGROUND: Current medical operations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) allow for real-time audio-video communication with a flight surgeon at mission control, resupply, and medical evacuation to earth on the order of hours. As mission profiles change from LEO to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, medical risk as a contribution to overall mission risk is anticipated to rise substantially. Concurrently, due to the distance, the medical systems on board vehicles proposed for these mission types are expected to have reduced mass and volume allocation. Together, astronaut crews will be at a higher risk of major medical events, be required to perform a broader set of tasks, and have substantially reduced resources and support to do so. Earth Independent Medical Operations (EIMO) aims to identify and fill the gaps present in this progressively changing paradigm. OVERVIEW: Medical supplies, resources, and skills are central to spaceflight medical systems. Vehicles used for non-LEO missions are anticipated to be smaller and thus the medical system will also need to have reduced mass, volume, and power. Medical resources are another form of consumable and may need resupply or pre-deployment to meet crew needs. One particular concern is the degradation of medications which become less efficacious and potentially toxic with time, particularly given environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, oxygen, and radiation which have not yet been fully studied. Supply and resource management in LEO is dependent on resupply, however the supply chain of transporting equipment does not yet have a clear infrastructure for missions beyond LEO. DISCUSSION: EIMO is intended to systemically identify and fill these gaps with forward-looking solutions. In mission monitoring of resources with technology like RFID, improving medical resource longevity, targeted resupply and careful pre-mission planning will be central to facilitate crew health and performance. One approach to optimizing resources is the Informing Mission Planning via Analysis of Complex Tradespaces (IMPACT) tool, which uses probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) to quantitatively predict medical risk and identify resources and skills that mitigate this risk. This evidence based, quantitative analysis prediction tool and several other approaches to meeting the challenge of supply and resource management are discussed.

Arian Anderson↗

NASA NTRS2005

STS-114 Flight Day 2 Highlights

Video coverage of NASA's Return to Flight continues with highlights from Day 2 of STS-114. After a wake-up song from Mission Control Center, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery (Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot James Kelly, Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Stephen Robinson, Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, and Charles Camarda) inspects the orbiter for damage using a camera on the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS). The SRMS, a robot arm, extends its length by grappling the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System, in order to image Discovery's wing leading edges and the underside of its nose. After the boom is stowed in the payload bay, the top and sides of the crew cabin are then imaged, including the Reaction Control System jets. The Shuttle's Ku-band antenna is then deployed. The video includes scenes of the payload bay contents, and crew members on the flight deck.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1982

An analytical prediction of pilot ratings utilizing human pilot model

In order to analytically predict pilot ratings, an evaluation method of a manual control system which consists of an aircraft and a human pilot, is proposed and examined. The method is constructed upon the assumptions that the control mission determines the critical frequency the pilot should bring to his focus, and that the degree of closed-loop stability and the human compensation necessary to attain the stability determine the human subjective evaluation of the system. As a result, a simple evaluation chart is introduced. The chart enables prediction of the subjective evaluation, if the controlled element dynamics and the mission are given. The chart is in good accord with almost all of the existing results of pilot ratings. This method has the following advantages: (1) simplicity, in a sense that the method needs to evaluate only two typical controlled element parameters, namely, the gain slope and the phase at the critical control frequency; (2) applicability to unstable controlled elements; (3) predictability of controllability limits of manual control; (4) possibility of estimating human compensatory dynamics.

Tanaka, K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Common front end systems for Space Shuttle and Space Station control centers at Johnson Space Center

In the beginning of the fiscal year 1992, the development organizations of Johnson Space Center (JSC) were poised to begin two major projects: the Space Station Control Center and the refurbishment of the telemetry processing area of the Space Shuttle Mission Control Center. A study team established that a common front end concept could be used and could reduce development costs for both projects. A standard processor was defined to support most of the front end functions of both control centers and supports a consolidation of control positions which effectively reduces operations cost. This paper defines that common concept and describes the progress that has been made in development of the Consolidated Communications Facility (CCF) during the past year.

Uljon, Linda↗

NASA NTRS1996

STS-76 Flight Day 7

On this seventh day of the STS-76 mission, the flight crew, Cmdr. Kevin P. Chilton, Pilot Richard A Searfoss, and Mission Specialists Linda M. Godwin, Michael R. Clifford, and Ronald M. Sega are shown bidding the Mir crew and Shannon W. Lucid an emotional farewell, Chilton calling it 'a bittersweet moment.' The Atlantis and Mir commanders, Chilton and Onufrienko, along with spacewalkers Godwin and Clifford took time out to talk with CBS' 'Up to the Minute.' The space flyers discussed the success of their joint mission and the 6-hour spacewalk. The astronauts and cosmonauts exchanged handshakes and hugs in the Mir core module, and then praised both mission control centers, Houston and Kaliningrad for their support throughout the joint phase of the mission.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1993

(abstract) Mission Operations and Control Assurance: Flight Operations Quality Improvements

Mission Operations and Command Assurance (MO&CA), a recent addition to flight operations teams at JPL. provides a system level function to instill quality in mission operations. MO&CA's primary goal at JPL is to help improve the operational reliability for projects during flight. MO&CA tasks include early detection and correction of process design and procedural deficiencies within projects. Early detection and correction are essential during development of operational procedures and training of operational teams. MO&CA's effort focuses directly on reducing the probability of radiating incorrect commands to a spacecraft. Over the last seven years at JPL, MO&CA has become a valuable asset to JPL flight projects. JPL flight projects have benefited significantly from MO&CA's efforts to contain risk and prevent rather than rework errors. MO&CA's ability to provide direct transfer of knowledge allows new projects to benefit directly from previous and ongoing experience. Since MO&CA, like Total Quality Management (TQM), focuses on continuous improvement of processes and elimination of rework, we recommend that this effort be continued on NASA flight projects.

mission operation flight operations error detectio↗

NASA NTRS2012

Virtual Guidance Ultrasound: A Tool to Obtain Diagnostic Ultrasound for Remote Environments

Astronauts currently acquire ultrasound images on the International Space Station with the assistance of real-time remote guidance from an ultrasound expert in Mission Control. Remote guidance will not be feasible when significant communication delays exist during exploration missions beyond low-Earth orbit. For example, there may be as much as a 20- minute delay in communications between the Earth and Mars. Virtual-guidance, a pre-recorded audio-visual tutorial viewed in real-time, is a viable modality for minimally trained scanners to obtain diagnostically-adequate images of clinically relevant anatomical structures in an autonomous manner. METHODS: Inexperienced ultrasound operators were recruited to perform carotid artery (n = 10) and ophthalmic (n = 9) ultrasound examinations using virtual guidance as their only instructional tool. In the carotid group, each each untrained operator acquired two-dimensional, pulsed, and color Doppler of the carotid artery. In the ophthalmic group, operators acquired representative images of the anterior chamber of the eye, retina, optic nerve, and nerve sheath. Ultrasound image quality was evaluated by independent imaging experts. RESULTS: Eight of the 10 carotid studies were judged to be diagnostically adequate. With one exception the quality of all the ophthalmic images were adequate to excellent. CONCLUSION: Diagnostically-adequate carotid and ophthalmic ultrasound examinations can be obtained by untrained operators with instruction only from an audio/video tutorial viewed in real time while scanning. This form of quick-response-guidance, can be developed for other ultrasound examinations, represents an opportunity to acquire important medical and scientific information for NASA flight surgeons and researchers when trained medical personnel are not present. Further, virtual guidance will allow untrained personnel to autonomously obtain important medical information in remote locations on Earth where communication is difficult or absent.

Caine,Timothy L.↗

NASA NTRS2012

International Space Station as Analog of Interplanetary Transit Vehicle For Biomedical Research

Astronaut missions lasting up to six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have much in common with interplanetary flights, especially the outbound, Earth-to-Mars transit portion of a Mars mission. Utilization of ISS and other appropriate platforms to prepare for crewed expeditions to planetary destinations including Mars has been the work of NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) since 2005. HRP is charged specifically to understand and reduced the risks to astronaut health and performance in space exploration missions: everything HRP does and has done is directly related to that responsibility. Two major categories of human research have capitalized on ISS capabilities. The first category centers on the biomedical aspects of long-duration exposure to spaceflight factors, including prolonged weightlessness, radiation exposure, isolation and confinement, and actual risk to life and limb. These studies contribute to astronaut safety, health and efficiency on any long-duration missions, whether in low Earth orbit (LEO) or beyond. Qualitatively, weightlessness is weightlessness, whether in LEO or en route to Mars. The HRP sponsors investigations into losses in muscle and bone integrity, cardiovascular function, sensory-motor capability, immune capacity and psychosocial health, and development and demonstration of appropriate treatments and preventative measures. The second category includes studies that are focused on planetary expeditions beyond LEO. For these, ISS offers a high fidelity analog to investigate the combined effects of spaceflight factors (described above) plus the isolation and autonomy associated with simulated increasing distance from Earth. Investigations address crew cohesion, performance and workload, and mission control performance. The behavioral health and performance and space human factors aspects of planetary missions dominate this category. Work has already begun on a new investigation in this category which will examine the effects of a simulated lag in communications (mimicking that expected in transit to Mars) on astronaut performance aboard ISS. Extension of the current ISS increment duration from six months to nine or even twelve months would provide opportunities for expanded research relevant to long duration missions, albeit at the cost of fewer astronauts as subjects for those investigations. Given the possible limited access to ISS after 2020, if ISS is intended to facilitate future exploration missions, then the in-flight human investigations should focus on those that clearly enable future exploration missions.

Charles, John B.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Design of Autonomous Medical Response Agent (AMRA) Aggregate Information Dashboard (AID)

Future astronauts in deep space missions will rely on tools and technologies empowering them to self-diagnose and self-treat medical conditions. Given communications delays and limited bandwidth in future long-duration exploration missions (LDEMs), medical decision support technologies must empower the crew to manage routine medical activities, acute medical incidents, as well as emergency medical scenarios independently from ground support.The Autonomous Medical Response Agent (AMRA) is envisioned as a digital tool enabling crew to issue medical complaints and interact with a medical decision support algorithm which develops a differential diagnosis and recommends a treatment protocol for the condition. AMRA will draw from individual crew medical history in addition to crew symptoms to more efficiently identify high-risk medical conditions. A new symptom could be indicative of a chronic condition or a normal adaptation to long-duration spaceflight, but could just as easily be indicative of an adverse vehicle condition affecting the entire crew.While real-time communication with a flight surgeon may not possible, the crew will nonetheless require a means to communicate and document both routine and emergency medical incidents to ground support. Conversely, flight surgeons and medical specialists on the ground will need to understand information such as crew vitals or responses to medical check-ups and examinations within the larger context of crew schedule, mission activities, and vehicle performance. A user interface which establishes communication protocols between an individual crew member and AMRA, as well as ground support to the crew is a significant area of research demanding input and consideration.The design of AMRA AID is intended to: a) represent routine medical activities as well as new (unplanned) medical incidents within the larger context of crew schedule and mission activities, and b) increase confidence between ground support and crew members over the course of LDEMs. Maintaining situation awareness of unplanned medical incidents between ground and crew will be a critical element within LDEMs. Two medical incidents headache and difficulty breathing are being explored within a user interface prototype which captures communications protocols between crew members and mission control, human health monitoring, vehicle or environmental monitoring, as well as crew schedule and mission activities holistically.

Yashar, M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The History of EVA Safety at NASA

With NASA’s past and current involvement in Human Space Exploration in low Earth orbit and on the Moon, in lunar orbit and on the surface in the near future, and interplanetary space and the surface of Mars in the coming decades, the safety of the crew during Extravehicular Activity (EVA) remains paramount. EVAs during human space flight will challenge the crew and Mission Control for not only maintenance and reliability tasks but also exploration activities during a mission. Outside of launch and landing, EVA is the most dangerous crewed operation during a mission, making proper safety measures essential. This paper will explore how EVA safety operations havebeen managed throughout NASA’s history during the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs, how it is currently being managed for the International Space Station Program, and how these methods are planned to be utilized for Exploration efforts for human space flight into the future. Understanding the theory and processes that led to the documented safety requirements in the past and present will give insight into how to manage Exploration operations in the future, and may lead to process improvement with the advancements of technology in work today.

EVA↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Earth-Independent Medical Operations (EIMO) Concept of Operations

Compared to the current paradigm for crew health in low-Earth orbit and Lunar missions that rely on constant communication with Mission Control, there is an anticipated shift in medical operations for deep-space exploration missions. This shift stems from mission constraints imposed by the considerable distance from Earth, which include resource limitations due to a lack of resupply, mass, power, volume, and data limitations, challenges imposed by communication latency and the inability to evacuate in case of emergencies. To transition towards a more self-reliant medical approach, a comprehensive strategy is essential to progressively enable crew autonomy and mitigate mission success risks in the challenging environment of space. This transformative shift is collectively referred to as "Earth-Independent Medical Operations" (EIMO), signifying the gradual transfer of medical care and decision-making from terrestrial resources to space-based assets. This transition is aimed at bolstering astronaut health and performance while simultaneously reducing the overall risks associated with space missions. The constraints related to EIMO necessitate an integrated development of medical systems, featuring interoperability with mission planning, vehicle design, spacesuit design, and data architecture. This integration is vital in establishing a robust medical infrastructure that not only supports the well-being of astronauts but also ensures the success of the mission as a whole. The Human Research Program (HRP) Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) Element has developed a model-based Concept of Operations (ConOps) outlining an initial vision for EIMO. Within this ConOps, a comprehensive view is presented, encompassing stakeholder needs, system objectives, and system goals associated with EIMO. Additionally, it provides illustrative examples of the various activities (scenarios) for which the system will be employed during missions. The selection of these activities has been meticulous, aiming to encompass a wide spectrum of medical conditions, including those falling under different risk categories, such as low-likelihood-low-consequence, low-likelihood-high-consequence, and high-likelihood-low-consequence. The selection of these activities (scenarios) effectively encompasses the wide range of medical events situated within an assumed probability-consequence bell curve. In each scenario, at least one of the five main EIMO components identified is captured. Those EIMO components are: Pre-mission Planning, Acute and Emergent Management Decision Making, Prolonged Medical Management Decision Making, Supplies and Resource Management, and Task Load Management. The ConOps was developed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of systems engineers, scientists, and clinicians across NASA and aims to serve as an initial recommendation to gradually and safely enabling crew autonomy for Mars missions and beyond.

Earth Independent Medical Operations↗

NASA NTRS2024

Earth-Independent Medical Operations (EIMO) Concept of Operations (ConOps)

Earth Independent Medical Operations↗

NASA NTRS2003

Procedure Visualization to Augment Space Mission Training

The Intelligent Virtual Station (IVS) has been developed by the Smart Systems Research Laboratory at the NASA Ames Research Center as a solution to some of the training and operations challenges faced by organizations like the International Space Station training facilities and Mission Control engineering teams. At present, astronaut crews are constrained by limited access to physical mockups, which themselves have a built-in 1-g limitation. Mission operations team are faced with the daunting task of controlling the operations and maintenance of an ever-changing Station in space. Many operations teams create and follow textual procedures without the ability to visualize the given actions or alternatives. The NS allows users to easily generate and view procedures to enhance training and operations. Because training and mission operations are of crucial importance to the International Space Station and other similarly sophisticated programs, this paper is focused on the NS integrated procedure tool.

McIntosh, Dawn M.↗

NASA NTRS2010

MCCx C3I Control Center Interface Emulator

This slide presentation reviews the project to develop and demonstrate alternate Information Technologies and systems for new Mission Control Centers that will reduce the cost of facility development, maintenance and operational costs and will enable more efficient cost and effective operations concepts for ground support operations. The development of a emulator for the Control Center capability will enable the facilities to conduct the simulation requiring interactivity with the Control Center when it is off line or unavailable, and it will support testing of C3I interfaces for both command and telemetry data exchange messages (DEMs).

Mireles, James R.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Short Circuiting the Controller – Missteps in Maintenance and Inspection of Process and Wiring in STS-93

The primary objective of the Space Transportation System mission 93 (STS-93) was to deploy the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Chandra, the world's most powerful X-Ray telescope, allowed scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant and dynamic objects in the universe. Stripped of nearly 7,000 pounds of its own gear to make room for the payload, the orbiter assigned to this mission was Space Shuttle Columbia. Prior to STS-93, Columbia had flown 25 flights and was NASA's oldest and heaviest orbiter. On July 23, 1999, after two prior launch scrubs, Eileen Collins and her crew of four launched from Kennedy Space Center. About five seconds after launch, Mission Control at Johnson Space Center detected a voltage drop on one of Columbia's electrical buses. As a result of this power fluctuation, a primary and back-up Main Engine controller dropped offline. Given design redundancy, the two remaining controllers supported all three engines. If there had been any other AC bus issues, one engine of the three on the Orbiter would have shut down. The redundant set of digital computer units in each engine controller saved Columbia and her crew from a very risky contingency abort. Post-flight inspection revealed soot on a screw head and a hole in an adjacent Kapton insulated wire. The single strand of polyimide wire was located nearly half-way down the payload bay. The Shuttle Independent Assessment Team (SIAT) reported that the wire had rubbed and chaffed against a burred screw head. The burr was later determined to be the result of overtightening of the screw by a technician during a maintenance refurbishment. Alone, the burr may not have been problematic, but later, during another ground processing event, possibly years after, someone inadvertently stepped on the wiring harness. With the pressure and motion of unintended contact, some of the Kapton insulation rubbed off against the burred screw head. The SIAT suspected the wire damage was pre-existing and was caused 4 or 5 years prior to the flight. Finally, the intense vibrations during the launch sequence allowed contact between the exposed conductor and exposed metal area on the burred screw head, resulting in the arcing and shorting of the wire. Due to the quick turnaround times of Space Shuttle Orbiters, wiring issues caused from multiple maintenance events were often overlooked. Additionally, failing to incorporate thorough and early inclusion of human systems integration (HSI) applications as a crucial part of the decision process can result in these types of misshaps. In order to reduce human error associated with integrated manufacturing, maintenance, refurbishment and flight preparations, wire inspection criteria should be refined and standardized, visual inspection processes should be quantified, and technicians should be certified by specially trained instructors. This case, among many others, unveils why human error management and development of safety metrics is a vital piece in the development of complex systems, and why it should be supported aggressively and implemented program wide.

Human Systems Integration↗

NASA NTRS1980

STS-1 operational flight profile. Volume 5: Descent, cycle 3

The trajectory data presented are to be used for orbiter systems and subsystems evalation, flight and mission control center software verification, flight techniques and timeline development, crew training, and evaluation of operational mission suitability. The entry profile is very similar to cycle 2, however, elevon and body flap temperature margins have increased and the elevon schedule was changed. The terminal area energy management (TAEM) profile was completely reshaped to conform with new angle of attack constraints and left hand turn around the heading alignment cylinder. Also, the entry/TAEM interface was adjusted to minimize guidance induced angle of attack transients across the interface. The approach and landing phase was reshaped for a 20 deg glideslope and reduced velocity at touchdown. The definition of the runway threshold was standardized for all landing sites. This results in a shift at Edwards Air Force Base in aim points and touchdown relative to the threshold of 1000 feet. The rollout remains essentially unchanged with the exception of the speedbrake, which is now deployed to 50 percent at touchdown.

Moore, R.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Linear Covariance Techniques to Analyze a Multi-Vehicle, Multi-GN&C System with Applications to Rendezvous in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit

Typically for a rendezvous and docking scenario, only a single vehicle is considered the active vehicle. As a result, the target vehicle’s GN&C system is typically not a factor in the integrated performance analysis as it assumes a passive role. However, for upcoming NASA Artemis missions the active vehicle is both the chaser and target spacecraft. In addition, both vehicles are cooperating with one another, sharing telemetry data, and relying on data extracted from the GN&C system of the other. The process also includes a team of ground support personnel in mission control are tracking and monitoring each spacecraft uplinking state estimates and targeting solutions to support mission operations and enhance the onboard flight system performance. Being able to quickly analyze the impact of both vehicles with two different GN&C systems that also interact with the ground that does its own navigation and targeting uploads is critical. This paper outlines how to perform this rapid analysis using linear covariance techniques and applies them to a rendezvous scenario initiated in low lunar orbit and completed in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) representative of the NASA Artemis III mission.

Linear Covariance Analysis↗

NASA NTRS1988

An intelligent training system for space shuttle flight controllers

An autonomous intelligent training system which integrates expert system technology with training/teaching methodologies is described. The system was designed to train Mission Control Center (MCC) Flight Dynamics Officers (FDOs) to deploy a certain type of satellite from the Space Shuttle. The Payload-assist module Deploys/Intelligent Computer-Aided Training (PD/ICAT) system consists of five components: a user interface, a domain expert, a training session manager, a trainee model, and a training scenario generator. The interface provides the trainee with information of the characteristics of the current training session and with on-line help. The domain expert (DeplEx for Deploy Expert) contains the rules and procedural knowledge needed by the FDO to carry out the satellite deploy. The DeplEx also contains mal-rules which permit the identification and diagnosis of common errors made by the trainee. The training session manager (TSM) examines the actions of the trainee and compares them with the actions of DeplEx in order to determine appropriate responses. A trainee model is developed for each individual using the system. The model includes a history of the trainee's interactions with the training system and provides evaluative data on the trainee's current skill level. A training scenario generator (TSG) designs appropriate training exercises for each trainee based on the trainee model and the training goals. All of the expert system components of PD/ICAT communicate via a common blackboard. The PD/ICAT is currently being tested. Ultimately, this project will serve as a vehicle for developing a general architecture for intelligent training systems together with a software environment for creating such systems.

Loftin, R. Bowen↗