One-Shift to Zero-Shift Transition Plan (V1) %W% %G% UCB CEA: Integrated/Intelligent Science Operations (ISO)

BAS/EUVE/0063/95
One-Shift to Zero-Shift Transition Plan (V1)
B. Stroozas, 24 Jul 1995

1. Science Instrument Support Team Philosophy

With the recent move to single-shift payload operations in the ESOC, and with the concept of zero-shift operations to support the Extended Mission, has come a change in philosophy for the ISO Science Instrument Support (SIS) team. For future payload operations the ESOC will not be staffed as it has conventionally been in the past. In future operations all telemetry monitoring will be done autonomously; wherever possible, all other payload duties will also be streamlined and automated. The goal is to minimize payload operations costs and reduce -- and, if possible, eliminate -- the needs for human intervention. As these changes take affect the roles of the SIS team members will be more and more oriented to support development and test-bed activities.

Working in this automated environment the Payload Controllers (PCs) will be present at CEA during normal business hours (M-F, 9am-5pm) and will be responsible for the following:

The ACE system will remain in effect during off-shift hours.

The PCAs will be present at CEA during normal work hours on weekends (9am-5pm) and during regular business hours as school schedules permit. Under the supervision of the PCs the PCAs will perform the following duties:

As mentioned above, daily staff work will be focused more on development and test-bed efforts as the zero-shift transition progresses; those activities deemed useful to SIS operations (e.g., those that reduce manual work and/or enhance the system abilities) will be incorporated into daily operations.

2. Zero-Shift Operations

The concept of zero-shift operations is a goal of CEA/EUVE. Moving to zero shifts provides for numerous opportunities for innovation and advanced software technology applications, for cost savings due to reduced operations man-power needs, and as a proof-of-concept for the benefit of future NASA missions. The recent transition from three shifts to one makes the zero-shift transition the next logical step in the progression of streamlining and automating satellite mission operations.

The definition of zero-shift operations is based on the following points:

The actual transition to zero-shift operations will be accomplished via a phased approach. Phase 1 will require that software completely take over all monitoring of real-time telemetry although, personnel will still be required on a daily basis (including weekends) to handle specific daily and weekly support tasks. Phase 2 will require that software handle all necessary operations and that human intervention will only be necessary for anomaly investigation and resolution. In addition to addressing operations needs for human and software support this plan will ultimately also address requirements for such issues as facilities, hardware, on-call support, and remote access. The overall system design will support ISD's Autonomous Data Aquisition -- Turn-key Inter-Network Archive (ADA-TINA) concepts.

Successful zero-shift operations will ensure that all necessary functions be handled by software and that human intervention only be required to investigate and correct anomaly situations. During nominal operations the systems in the ESOC should be able to operate indefinitely without requiring human support.

3. Assumptions and Baseline Requirements

The zero-shift transition is based on the following assumptions and baseline requirements:

4. Current One-Shift Operations

In current one-shift operations the PCA is tasked during the daily shift with the visual monitoring of real-time passes and the specific daily/weekly checklist tasks that support console duty. PCAs work regular business hours (9am-5pm) to cover all weekend shifts, and as many regular weekday shifts as their school schedules allow. The PC is available during all weekday shifts (M-F, 9am-5pm) to tend to commanding duties, anomaly resolution, supervision of PCAs, and other activities (e.g., development and test-bed support). During off-shift hours the PCs rotate as ACEs who respond to all pages from the monitoring software, from PCAs, or from the message center (e.g., PACOR).

5. Zero-Shift Operations, Phase 1

The goal of the Phase 1 zero-shift transition will be to eliminate the need for all visual monitoring of real-time telemetry passes. This will cut the PCA workload during the weekday and weekend shifts; PCA operations support will then only be required for the few hours each day required to attend to the daily/weekly duties that support the console work. The roles of the PC will be essentially the same as for the current single-shift operations. Again, as tasks are automated the roles of SIS personnel will be shifted to support development and test-bed activities.

It is estimated that Phase 1 can be accomplished by Nov 1995. The major need for this transition (see below) is an expansion of eworks to include additional engineering monitors that ensure adequate H&S checks throughout the day.

6. Zero-Shift Operations, Phase 2

The primary goal of the Phase 2 zero-shift transition is to eliminate all daily/weekly checklist tasks that support console work. This will eliminate the need for any day-to-day activity and, therefore, any weekend support of the payload. The primary focus of SIS staff -- both PCs and PCAs -- will then be on development and test-bed activities instead of daily operations, and all SIS personnel will work only during normal business hours.

A secondary goal of Phase 2 is to eliminate the need for manual commanding of the payload. By relying on ATCs we can virtually eliminate the need for human interaction except in anomaly or special commanding situations.

The timeframe for the Phase 2 zero-shift transition is TBD and is highly dependent on the software development efforts, which are expected to be significant. The Phase 2 needs and wants are being worked out in detail (see below).

7. Needs (N) and Wants (W) for Phased (1/2) Zero-Shift Transition

The following lists some of the things that the SIS team deems as needs (N) and wants (W) in support of the phased transition to zero-shift operations. An item noted "N1" is deemed as a need for Phase 1; "W2" a want for Phase 2; a "want" for Phase 1 often becomes a "need" for Phase 2. The listing below is tentative and incomplete; further details will appear in future revisions of this plan.

Simulations

Expansion of eworks

Absolute Time Commands (ATCs)

Ground System Monitoring Software

Mail comments to bretts@cea.berkeley.edu