Web-Based Planning, Scheduling and Assessment in Mission Operations Centers

Abstract

With a web based scheduling system mission operations personnel can access all aspects of planning, scheduling and assessment on site or at a remote diverse location utilizing Web Based Applications (WBAs). WBAs are software applications that use web pages or forms via a typical web browser. By utilizing WBAs with Open Source Software/Free Software (OSS/FS) cost, time, and maintenance can be substantially reduced. Within the last year TIMED Mission Operations has successfully upgraded existing equipment and software to utilize WBAs. The Mission Operations Team (MOT) was able to transition flawlessly during a fully operational mission from a traditional planning and scheduling system to a web based planning, scheduling and assessment system known as Webular. With the rapid growth and advancements in technology it is imperative that the Mission Operations Centers (MOC) upgrade and keep current with the latest technology. We will demonstrate the capabilities and advantages of the MOC Webular planning, scheduling and assessment software. With the MOC Webular software the MOT can schedule contacts, generate Predicted Position, Velocity and Time (PVAT) files, generate real-time contact scripts with the options to select which front end processor, which Solid State Recorder (SSR), whether to advance the SSR read pointer or to position the pointer back to where it was at the beginning of the contact, ground station source, staffed contact or unattended contact (no staff present). Since Webular has been implemented, the MOT has progressed to a Monday thru Friday schedule with weekends off. Webular allows the MOT to generate a master schedule Satellite Test and Operations Language (STOL) script which calls the appropriate script that is generated for each specific contact. If an unattended contact fails in the evening or on the weekend, the MOT can log into Webular from remote locations with their laptop to access the contact event logs to perform assessment. If required, the MOT can access and monitor user specified telemetry points through Webular. If the MOT can remotely determine the anomaly, they can take corrective action via Webular with pre-approved STOL scripts. If the problem is determined to be the ground system, the MOT can use Webular to schedule additional ground station supports and manage the SSR activity for any lost data. Webular has reduced the MOT anomaly response time during off hours by providing online assessment reports that did not exist in the previous scheduling system. The MOC Webular consists of a multi-tabled MySql database, MySql database server, Apache Web Server, GNU/Linux OS, and the MOC Propagatar C program. Webular utilizes existing tools to format and display all potential ground station contact alerts, and to schedule desired contacts with the APL or Universal Space Network (USN) ground assets. All pertinent data is stored in database tables as it is generated. Additional MOC scheduling tools assist the MOT in planning spacecraft bus events such as the yaw maneuver, instrument calibration maneuvers, and daily instrument packet counter resets. MOC Webular tools also automate generation of the STOL script used during spacecraft contacts, and the MOC planned and as-flown spacecraft event timelines. The use of scripting languages in Webular, such as PHP and PERL has enabled the MOT to perform the assessment process remotely by accessing several spacecraft reports and logs. Meanwhile, a brief explanation of the TIMED mission objectives, facilities and data products will be described along with the illustration of the