Ground data system risk mitigation techniques for faster, better, cheaper missions

Abstract

The Small Explorer (SMEX) program's ground data system (GDS) team developed risk mitigation techniques. These approaches have developed through the SMEX series of missions and are practised today under the Triana program. These techniques are: (1) Mission team organization-empowerment of a close-knit ground data system team comprising system engineering, software engineering, testing, and flight operations personnel. (2) Common spacecraft test and operational control system-utilization of the prelaunch spacecraft integration system as the post-launch ground data system on-orbit command and control system. (3) Utilization of operations personnel in prelaunch testing-making the flight operations team an integrated member of the spacecraft testing activities at the beginning of the spacecraft fabrication phase. (4) Consolidated test team-combining system, mission readiness and operations testing to optimize test opportunities with the ground system and spacecraft. (5) Reuse of spacecraft, systems, standards, and people obtaining greater efficiencies through reuse of common spacecraft components, flight and ground-based subsystems, standardized interfaces, and project team personnel. The SMEX ground system development approach for faster, better, cheaper missions has been very successful. This paper discusses these risk management techniques in the areas of ground data system design, implementation, test and operational readiness.