Opposite Ends of the Spectrum: Cassini and Mars Exploration Rover Science Operations

Abstract

The variety of space science missions is impressive, from interplanetary flyby missions to orbiting observatories; orbital mapping missions to rovers driving around on Mars. As diverse as these missions are, they are built with one purpose in mind: collect science data and return it to Earth. To achieve these goals, operational considerations must be balanced with science objectives. This is the world of science operations. The Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn and the Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER)sit at opposite ends of the science operations spectrum. Comparing these two missions provides unique insights into the elements that are common to all science operations systems. While a side-by-side comparison of mission types, organizational structures, and formal processes is important, the question of what defines these common elements of science operations is better addressed through an examination of the issues one must address on a day-to-day basis. Using the framework of common elements reveals some meaningful comparisons between Cassini and MER. The common elements found are: the role of downlink assessment, the act of balancing science desires, and the trade-off between optimizing science activities versus controlling operational complexity.As new space science missions are developed, new mission profiles flown, and new science operations systems implemented, these three common elements will play a major role in the science operations environment. Looking at science operations from this approach not only serves to improve processes on Cassini and MER, but also aids future exploration missions that demand a high level of science planning. All types of mission science operations, despite having varying mission profiles, can learn from the common elements identified in this paper. Nomenclature JPL= Jet Propulsion Laboratory sol = Martian Day 1

ROSMC: A High-Level Mission Operation Framework for Heterogeneous Robotic Teams

“…The non-synchronized section, however, remains on the ground station and still editable while execution D . This scheme of uploading a mission and planning next activities is common practice in space-robot operations [21]. What is unique to ROSMC is that modifications on the synchronized section can be performed seamlessly with future planning.…”