Cost Efficient Command Management for the EOS Operations Center

Theresa Brandt
tbrandt@eos.hitc.com
LORAL

Abstract:
The Earth Observing System (EOS) will include a series of
satellites designed to gather data for studying our changing
global environment. The EOS Operations Center (EOC) will
provide for scheduling, control, and monitoring of these
satellites. This paper addresses the command management
component of the EOC and its role in reducing both operations
and future development costs. Innovations are being
implemented in command management which provide the
infrastructure for increased operational efficiencies as well
as high reuse for future missions.

Command management provides the link between the scheduling
of mission activities and the execution of the commands that
carry out those scheduled activities onboard the spacecraft.
Innovations in the EOS scheduling operations concept and
command management design facilitate error-free operations,
enable the automation of routine control center functions,
and allow the distribution of scheduling responsibility to
the instrument teams.  These operational efficiencies will
provide the opportunity for reduced flight operations
staffing levels. A reduced flight operations staffing level
could result in significant cost savings because of the long
term nature of the EOS program.

Historically, the implementation of command management
functions has been strongly tied to spacecraft design. Since
the EOS program consists of multiple satellites built by
diverse manufacturers, re-implementation of command
management for each spacecraft in the series would be
prohibitavely expensive. The authors' analysis of existing
command management systems and use of object oriented design
techniques were instrumental in developing a command
management subsystem with anticipated 85% reuse.