Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Plan
Science
Planning
Data
Analysis
Act
(Communicate)
Science Plan
Spacecraft
Telemetry
Mission
Planning
Plan
Platform
Analysis
Act
Plan
Spacecraft
Sequence
Generation
Monitor
Spacecraft
Perform
Steps
Fig. 7.12.
Cooperative autonomy view of spacecraft mission control
Eventually, the mission planning function could be installed on the
spacecraft, thereby enabling it to operate fully autonomously. Figure
7.12
shows this final system, where human labor is focused on creating a science
plan and interpreting the results. The spacecraft converts the science plan
into a mission plan and then converts the mission plan into a series of low
level commands. Following execution of the low level commands, the results
are evaluated and the collected data are sent to the science team for analysis
and interpretation. Possibly, the team will modify the plan and redirect the
spacecraft. This model does not eliminate human intervention, since a hu-
man mission manager would monitor the system and ensure all problems are
properly resolved.
7.5 An Example of Cooperative Autonomy:
Virtual Platform
The previous section discussed the cooperative autonomy model in view of
current NASA processes and missions. NASA is also pursuing new ways to
increase the science return of spacecraft while minimizing the cost of devel-
opment and operations. One emerging concept is that of virtual platforms.
Virtual platforms involve the instruments of two or more spacecraft to
collect data for a common science goal. Many configurations of virtual plat-
forms are possible. In the simplest example, known as formation flying, mul-
tiple spacecraft perform their science collection while keeping a fixed position
relative to one another. The fixed relative position can, in some cases, be
maintained without direct communication between the spacecraft, and the
cooperation in such cases is limited to merging the collected data.
