Health Management and Automation for Future Space Systems

Abstract

Current manned spaceflight programs, including the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle, have a strong dependency on real-time support of ground personnel for the safe and successful execution of space missions. This system design and operations paradigm has proven to be largely successful over the last 40 years of manned spaceflight. However, NASA has set a new course towards exploring space beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and short duration missions. The new Exploration Program vision includes extended surface operations on the Moon and Mars, which bring a new set of system design and operation challenges and requirements. The new challenges range from developing systems that enable a sustainable program over many years, to the technical challenges of long duration missions beyond LEO, like asynchronous communications with Earth-based support centers. Thus, the next generation spacecraft must have the capability to support critical, real-time decision-making on-board, enabling mission operations management that is not highly dependant on timely Earth-based support. Moreover, reliable and accurate system health state information is required for autonomous and/or interactive real-time decision-making and management of mission operations. The development of an optimal level of health management and automation capabilities on future spacecraft systems must start early in the design of such systems, and be directly influenced by system and mission requirements. Honeywell and other industry members have made significant technological advances in the area of Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM). IVHM has provided significant life cycle savings in commercial and military aviation through improved reliability and lower operational costs. These benefits can also be applied to spacecraft, while building the foundation for automating other mission management functions. However, the use of an operations-relevant environment, such as the Mission Control Center environment, and the early involvement of the operations community in the development and evaluation of such technology is critical to the success of the development effort. It ensures that the developed capabilities have a direct benefit on crew safety, mission affordability, effectiveness, and are extensible to the needs of the next generation space systems. This can be accomplished by using current space flight programs, like ISS, as a platform to