V UVISS Study Review Presentation

1
THE EVOLUTION OF THE OPERATION ACTIVITIES AT THE
ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY (ASI) USER SUPPORT and
OPERATIONS CENTER (ASI-USOC) L. Bruca(1), F.
Cavaliere(2), R. Fortezza(2), R. Vicinanza(2), E.
Ceglia(2), S. Tempesta(2)(1) ASI Agenzia
Spaziale Italiana (2) MARS Center
2
ASI-USOC_at_MARS Center

• MARS (Microgravity Advanced Research and Support)
  Center, located in Naples, Italy, was founded in
  1988 as a consortium between the University of
  Napoli and Alenia-Finmeccanica.
• MARS Center operates as
• ASI Italian USOC (User Support and Operation
  Center)
• ESA FRC (Facility Responsible Center) for Fluid
  Science Laboratory
• As ASI USOC MARS is responsible for the
• operations of the Italian Payloads onboard
  ISS
• it will represent the ASI I/F of the
  Italian
• Scientific User Community
• As ESA FRC MARS will be responsible for the
  
  utilization control of FSL.
• MARS Personnel 30 employees

3
MARS Space Operations Experience
EuroMIR 95
Texus 34
Control Room MARS
Control Room MARS
Experiment ASI
Experiment MARS
link DICE-Eutelsat
link ISDN
Spacelab LMS
Spacelab IML-2
Control Room MARS
Control Room MARS
Experiment MARS
Experiment MARS
link ISDN-TAT
1995
link Italsat-TAT
Maser 8
1994
Maser 6
1996
Control Room MARS
Control Room MARS
Experiment MARS
Experiment MARS
link ISDN
link Eutelsat
1997
1993
Spacelab D-2
Control Room GSOC
Maxus 3
Experiment MARS
Control Room MARS
link Italsat-TAT
MARS TELESCIENCE EVOLUTION
Experiment MARS
1998
Real-time support from MARS
1992
link ISDN
Maxus 1b
1999
Control Room MARS
Foton 12
Experiment MARS
Control Room MARS
link Olympus
1991
Experiment MARS
link ISDN
2001
Maxus 4
Control Room MARS and UHB
1990
2003
Experiment MARS
Maxus 1a
Control Room MARS
link ISDN
1989
Experiment MARS
link Olympus
Texus 28
Control Room Toulouse
Experiment CNES
ISS
Link Olympus
Control Room MARS
1st MARS Support Activity
Experiment ASI Payloads HPA, ALTEA
Texus 23
link ISS Ground Segment
Control Room Fucino
Experiment MARS
Link Eutelsat
4
MARS Center - Scientific Support for Space
Missions

• MARS has participated in about 15 space missions
  on-board most of the existing space platforms,
  gaining experience with all the available
  communication links
• Besides all telecommunications tasks MARS also
  developed PI-Friendly interfaces for scientific
  representation of telemetry data
• MARS has experience in real-time data and video
  elaboration for scientific parameters extraction
  and representation
• MARS has developed commanding from PI
  interfaces that allow the scientists to have an
  effective interaction with flight experiments
• MARS has a scientific staff that can support PIs
  to design flight missions

5
13 Years of Successful Scientific Support
1989
MARS has developed PI-friendly interfaces for
space experiments monitoring and control for
European and USA Research Teams
Texus 23 Texus 28 Maxus 1a Maxus 1b Spacelab
D-2 Maser 6 Spacelab IML-2 EuroMIR 95 Texus
34 Spacelab LMS Maser 6 Maxus 3 Maser 8 -Foton
12 Maxus 4
2002
6
Spacelab Missions Supported by MARS
D2 (1993)
IML-2 (1994)
LMS (1996)
Prof.Monti Prof.Martinez Prof.Chun Prof.Langbein P
rof.Legros AFPM multi user facility
Prof.Monti Prof.Viviani Prof.Subramanian Prof.Legr
os Prof.Straub Prof.Langbein BDPU multi user
facility
Prof.Monti Prof.Viviani Prof.Legros Prof.Straub Pr
of.Subramanian Prof.Saville BDPU multi user
facility
MARS has experience in long duration missions
monitoring and control
For the LMS mission MARS developed real-time
video and data analysis to extract complex
parameters from telemetry data. PIs were able to
analyze derived parameters obtained analyzing
video and telemetry together
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The Past and the Future
8
1989 Texus 23

• The Simplest Configuration
• 1 PC to display telemetry and uplink commands
• a couple of 2.8 kpbs modems (link was via
  satellite) allowing monitoring control

9
1993 Spacelab - D2

• The first MARS Spacelab Mission!
• Connection through custom equipment
• Link was via ItalSat satellite (data/video/audio
  _at_ 2 Mbps)
• First application of MMI (Man Machine Interface)
  to remotely control experiments on board the
  Space Shuttle and graphically display
  telemetry/scientific data
• Computer platform was Apple Macintosh for MMI and
  IBM 580 WS which was used as RT simulator (TOLS)
• The Payload Control Centre was in
  Oberpfaffenhofen (GSOC - Germany) while the USOC
  was in MARS Control Room

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1994 Spacelab IML-2

• Remote Commanding
• Basically the same equipment used during Spacelab
  D-2 mission
• The difference was in the IGS rack, a facility
  assembled by ESOC (ESA) with ESA, NASA and, for
  MARS, MARS equipment. The MARS-side IGS was
  equipped with
• MARCONI CODEC (MARS) for video conference (SOPG)
• Cisco router
• Netrix node
• Modem for remote configuration of equipment
• HVoDS equipment
• Link was via ItalSat from MARS to ESOC and via
  TAT from ESOC to NASA

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1996 Spacelab LMS

• MARS-NASA Direct Telecommanding
• First introduced Internet (ancillary data)
• Again the IGS rack. The HRM device for video and
  high-rate data was added
• The EGSE router (a PC with ad-hoc software)
  replaced the Data Distribution Unit
• A MARCONI CODEC was used for video conference, as
  for IML-2
• For the first time MARS sends telecommands
  directly to NASA, using encryption
• Support to other, non Italian, scientists
• IP protocol was used to send commands and receive
  data
• ISDN was used for video
• A 256 kbps leased-line between MARS and ESOC was
  used for data and HVoDS
• Computers in MARS were linked by a Shared
  Ethernet (10Base2) LAN

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MARS as FRC for FSL (1)

• Following the successful achievements obtained as
  the USOC for various missions and adding to this
  its scientific know-how in the field of
  microgravity fluid science, MARS was awarded, in
  1998, by the European Space Agency (ESA), the
  role of Facility Responsible Centre (FRC) for the
  Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL).
• This rack facility, which will be accommodated in
  the European Laboratory Module Columbus, forms
  part of the ESA ISS utilisation program and is
  due for launch in late 2004.
• MARS is responsible for FSL management as far as
  science and utilisation aspects are concerned. It
  will support experiment scheduling and planning
  and will continuously monitor the evolution of
  the experiment providing scientific support to
  PIs.
• MARS will be responsible for commanding the
  facility and for allowing commanding from other
  ground facilities. The technical infrastructure
  at MARS will be developed for user support
  purposes, as well as for the operational
  utilisation responsibility for the FSL during its
  entire operational life cycle.

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MARS as FRC for FSL (2)
14
Italian ISS Payload Operations

• It has been decided worldwide that, for the ISS
  payload operations a decentralized approach
  should be used.
• Referring to the Italian architecture, the ASI
  ISS Mission Management Team (MMT), the ASI User
  Support and Operations Center (USOC), the
  Advanced Logistic and Technological Center
  (ALTEC) and the ASI-Net Distribution Node will
  support the NASA Payload Operations and
  Integration Center (POIC) in the running of
  Italian facilities in the US Laboratory and
  anywhere else on the ISS where ASI payloads are
  planned for operations.
• The decentralized mode of operations preparation
  and execution is characterized by assigning the
  majority of tasks related to the in-flight
  operation of these ASI ISS facilities during a
  mission increment to the ASI-USOC under the
  overall management of the ASI ISS MMT located at
  ASI Headquarters and under the coordination of
  the NASA POIC.
• Payload operations and research activities on the
  Space Station, and in particular the experiments,
  can be conducted either hands-on by the crew or
  from the ground in the telescience mode, or by
  a combination of the two modes.

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Italian ISS Payload Operation Cycle
16
ASI-USOC involvement in ISS ground segment
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ASI USOC General Concepts for ISS operations (1)

• The USOC will provide scientific, technical and
  engineering support to the Italian utilisation of
  the ISS relative to the payloads which will make
  use of ISS resources according to the NASA-ASI
  bilateral agreement.

• The general role of the USOC is to simplify the
  access to Space, taking care of the complex data
  management routed over the entire ISS ground
  infrastructure, so that each research team
  involved can concentrate its attention only on
  the scientific aspects of the experiment control.

• The USOC will represent the logical and physical
  interface between the ISS and Principal
  Investigators of the scientific payloads.

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ASI USOC General Concepts for ISS utilisation (2)
The USOC will distribute all the information
(telemetry, audio-video, voice) coming from the
NASA Centers (MSFC, JSC and KSC) relative to the
Italian payloads, towards the User Home Bases
(UHBs) of the Italian Principal Investigators
(PIs) using private ASI Wide Area Network
(ASINET) infrastructure and dedicated links.
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Required Operation Capabilities atMARS Center

• Reception of ALL telemetry relevant to supported
  Payload/ experiment (scientific, H/K,
  ancillary,.) in Real Time (RT)
• Capability to uplink ALL the TCs relevant to
  supported Payload/experiment in RT
• Access to HOSC stored data in parallel with
  mission operation
• Access to planning/re-planning facilities
• Access to off-line infrastructures for pre-flight
  tests and simulations
• Distribution of information to MARS-connected
  UHBs in RT
• Recording and playback of information received at
  MARS
• Talk/listen on TBD Voice loops (selectable on the
  basis of supported Payload/experiment)
• Reception of ancillary data relevant to ISS
  (upcoming LOS and AOS, MET, on-board time,
  position on-orbit,.)
• Videoconferences with ISS ground segment
  Personnel (SOPG,.)
• Access to on-line troubleshooting support (for
  NASA items)
• Access to Public Relations material (NASA TV,..)

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
Pre-Flight (1)

• Definition of the communication requirements
• Identification of Point of Contact (POC) towards
  NASA for all flight operations preparation
  activities
• Preparation of Payload Operations Data Sets -
  delivery to NASA via the Payload Data Library
  (PDL)
• Definition of actions, decisions and constraints
  linked to payload (P/L) flight operations
• Definition of UHB-based ground support equipment
• Identification of POCs for payload real-time
  operations the ASI-USOC the user operations
  team
• Definition of each person and element that will
  support the payload during real-time operations
• Support to P/L developer and PI in the selection
  of the P/L components for telemetry, telecommand
  and video subsystems
• Support to P/L developer in the flight operations
  task definition for the utilisation of the
  components for telemetry, telecommand and video
  subsystems
• Preparation of the Payload Ground Data Sets -
  delivery to NASA via the PDL
• Identification and definition of the voice loop
  requirements for all P/L operations
• Identification of the requirements for the
  reception of real time data at the UHBs.

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
Pre-Flight (2)

• Communication Systems
• Ground support UHB hardware development/acquisitio
  n
• Ground support UHB and ASI-USOC hardware set-up
• Set-up of communication links between ASI-USOC,
  MSFC-POIC and the UHB(s)
• Input of mission and experiment information in
  the dedicated web site.
• PI Training
• Preparation of the Payload Training Data Sets for
  Ground Support Personnel (GSP) and delivery to
  NASA via the PDL
• Training of the ASI-USOC GSP
• PI training for the utilisation of the ASI-USOC
  services available at the UHB.

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
Pre-Flight (3)

• End-to-End Test
• End-to-end testing for the verification of the
  correct functioning of all the elements and the
  hardware of the ASI-USOC and the UHB(s), linked
  to the JSC-MCC and the MSFC-POIC. The testing
  involves telemetry and video reception,
  transmission of commands, audio-video
  communications, data recording
• Operations simulations.
• Mission Planning Input
• Support to ASI in NASA working groups and in the
  analysis of available resources
• Support to ASI in the development of payload
  integration schedules
• Support to ASI in the development and updating of
  Payload Integration Agreements (PIA)
• Development of the Payload Planning Data Sets
  utilising the interim User Requirements
  Collection (iURC) tool
• Detailed analysis of the pre-increment planning
  requirements necessary for the development of the
  On-orbit Operations Summary (OOS)
• Preliminary definition of parameters relative to
  the Onboard Short Term Plan (OSTP).

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
In-Flight (1)

• Mission Replanning
• Support in the definition, if required, of
  updates relative to payload planning
  requirements
• Support to ASI in the definition, if required, of
  updates to parameters of the OSTP
• Support to NASA in the development of Weekly
  Lookahead Plans (WLP), Short Term Plans (STP),
  and updated OSTPs
• Management and development of the Operations
  Change Request (OCRs) via the NASA Payload
  Information System (PIMS).
• Audio/Video Communications
• Interface with NASA centres dedicated to
  communications coming from the ISS
• Reception of audio-video communications
• Audio-video communications transmission towards
  the UHB(s)
• Organisation and monitoring of audio-video
  communications
• Troubleshooting.

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
In-Flight (2)

• Telemetry and Telecommands
• Interface with NASA centres dedicated to payload
  operations
• Organisation and monitoring of payload
  operations
• Real time reception of payload telemetry
• Reception of ancillary data
• Real time telecommanding
• Support to PIs in the definition of new commands
  or changes to predefined commands that must be
  transmitted by the USOC to the payload in orbit
• Real time planning of payload operations
• Troubleshooting.

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
In-Flight (3)

• Data Handling and Distribution
• Housekeeping and scientific data cataloguing,
  organisation and filtering
• Housekeeping and scientific data, audio and video
  short and long term archiving
• Playback on demand
• Real time updating of the mission dedicated web
  site relative to the experiment and planning
  status
• Telemetry and audio/video communications
  distribution towards the UHB(s)
• Support to PIs in the real time scientific data
  analysis
• Support to PIs in the evaluation of payload
  status
• Streaming of video communications via the
  dedicated web site
• Experiment data and video distribution on demand.

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ASI-USOC Implementation Support Activities
Post-Flight

• Data Formatting and Distribution
• Data distribution to the PIs
• Data distribution on demand
• Support to PIs in the post flight scientific data
  analysis
• Support in the preparation technical and
  scientific post flight documentation
• Support to PIs in the evaluation of the
  experiments executed.