To reduce overall costs associated with system development and operations on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project, a common ground system is being developed for both spacecraft Integration and Test (I&T) and Operation phases of the program. Using a single ground system to both test and fly allows for reuse of products developed and tested during I&T. A more robust ground system and familiarity with the operational system will eliminate many problems typically encountered during the early stages of space flight. To achieve a common ground system Raytheon is modifying its Operations-based ground system, ECLIPSE?, to support integration and test for the James Webb Space Telescope and the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The major difficulty in implementing the ”Test Like You Fly” concept is bridging the requirements gap between the I&T and operations phases of a program. An incremental development approach with continuous customer input representing all phases of use is needed. Many scenarios are common between I&T and operations, but in some cases are incompatible. Therefore the system must be configurable to allow enabling and disabling of features unique to either operations or I&T. Use of a common system by multiple teams can lead to multiple incarnations of interfaces by different development groups. To minimize the support and risk of multiple implementations of an interface, one common interface library will be developed that can be used by all groups. The first phases of the I&T development have been successfully accomplished implementing a ”Test Like You Fly” mentality and using the lessons learned to date. Systems have been delivered and are in use for Flight Software and Engineering Model developments paving the way for use in both spacecraft I&T and operations phases of the program.
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