Hubble Space Telescope On-Line Operations Coordination

摘要

An important aspect of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) operations is the ability to quickly disseminate and coordinate spacecraft commanding and ground system information for both routine spacecraft operations and Space Shuttle Servicing Missions. When deviating from preplanned activities all new spacecraft commanding, ground system and space system configurations must be reviewed, authorized and executed in an efficient manner. The information describing the changes must be disseminated to and coordinated by a large group of users. In the early years of the HST mission a paper-based Operational Request System was used. The system worked, but was cumbersome to efficiently coordinate with a large geographically dispersed group of users in a timely manner. As network and server technology matured, the HST Project developed an on-line interactive Operations Request System. This Operations Request System is a server-based system (access via HST Net) that provides immediate access to command and ground system information to both local and remotely based Instrument Engineers, Flight Operations Team Controllers, Subsystem Engineers and Project Management. This paper describes the various aspects of the system's submission, review, authorization and implementation processes. Also described is the methodology used to arrive at the current system design and the Graphical User Interface (GUI). This system has been used successfully for all routine and special HST operations for the last five years. This approach to operations coordination is adaptable to spacecraft of any complexity.