Multi-Mission Operator Training Practices

Abstract

New operator training is a necessarily high priority for the Mission Operations group at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). In addition to as-needed professional hires, each spring a group of undergraduate students from the University of Colorado is hired to work as Command Controllers (CCs). The students spend a summer in a three-part classroom training program on their way to a formal certification. Fundamentals are the initial focus, with an intense overview of general spacecraft operations, spacecraft subsystems and real world applications of aerospace engineering. The second phase of training focuses on Mission Operations at LASP and the day to day activities that are required to command four very different spacecraft. Phase three consists of spacecraft specific training, including detailed functionality and subsystem monitoring. Proficiency is gauged throughout the summer by three exams and multiple in-class assignments. At the close of the summer, each CC candidate undergoes a practical exam where they must demonstrate their accumulated knowledge in order to earn their certification. This paper will detail the training and certification process for both professional and student employees, describe training tools used and their effectiveness, and explain how the Mission Operations team continues to stay proficient in an ever-changing operations environment.