Concept of operations for increasingly autonomous space operations

Abstract

Concept of Operations (ConOps) documents provide a common view of future system functions to all stakeholders. This ConOps focuses on deep space missions, such as a mission to Mars. While Earth experts will be continuously monitoring operations during crewed deep-space missions, there will be communication delays and disruptions that will impede the rapid assistance required by the crew in time- and safety-critical situations. An argument will be made that the crew will require (some kind of) assistance to quickly understand the situation enough to safe the system. This document describes a notional vision of the operational processes, practices and capabilities needed by a deep space mission crew for them to autonomously respond to anticipated and unanticipated, time-critical anomalies. A descriptive model of a Crew Performance Support System (CPSS) is used to illustrate what will be required for a safe and successful manned mission to Mars. Scenarios will address crew, Earth-Support and technology roles/responsibilities, task prioritization, teaming strategies, complex procedure development and execution, assumptions, asynchronous collaboration under communication time delay and limited data exchange to illustrate potential operational needs and approaches. Scenarios are responsive to known human risks identified during and after long duration spaceflight and incorporate transition plans as space travel moves from ISS to Lunar to Mars operations specifically identifying test bed and research activity needs. The envisioned CPSS will alter the current operational paradigm of crew reliance on Earth experts to resolve anomalies. The intent of this ConOps is to advance the research and development of a CPSS.