The Chandra X-Ray Observatory has not experienced a true safe mode since the year 2000. Chandra operations and engineering teams regularly engage in safe mode simulations to maintain response readiness and to update response and recovery procedures. These simulations are normally pre-coordinated and scheduled with everyone aware of the event beforehand. Program management decided that an unannounced simulation should be designed and conducted with sufficient realism that all operational participants believed they were responding to an actual anomaly. This had to be done with zero risk to the actual spacecraft. A new simulator was designed to produce higher fidelity data as required for this event by manipulating spacecraft telemetry recorded during the last true safe mode. NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) engineers and communications personnel were engaged to provide the realism required. The simulation was executed as a replacement for a DSN communications support scheduled near local midnight. The entire team responded, coming into the control center as if this were a real safe mode event. The simulation ran for three hours, as designed, with none of the participants realizing it was a simulation. The entire Chandra community participated, from engineers to scientists, and the team performed in an exemplary manner. The on-console crew was praised for their quick and efficient reaction to the safe mode event. The event was a success, highlighting only a few minor issues which needed to be addressed after the fact. The event ultimately served to reinforce the preparedness of the Chandra team and keep everyone sharp for any future anomalies.
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