Space Mission Operations
What is Mission Operations?
Space mission operations comprises the tools, processes, procedures, resources, and approaches that govern how to plan, manage, control, and coordinate space- and ground-based assets needed to fulfill mission objectives, in specified timelines.
Mission operations are mostly tied to the Mission Phases.
Operations for Earth Observation missions should encompass the entire end-to-end process. So from observation planning all the way to customer data delivery (plus customer success management for commercial customers)
Mission Operation Center (MOC) Responsibilities
- Mission timeline planning
- Spacecraft, and payload activity scheduling
- Real-time command and monitoring of the spacecraft
- Flight performance and status assessment
- In-flight emergency responses
- Data archiving
Example: Carbon Mapper ConOps
Communications, Training and Readiness
- Mission Operation Handbooks
- Mission Operation and Conops Tabletop exercises
- End-to-end testing and simulation of mission operations systems or data systems
- Pre-launch Operational Readiness Exercises and Operational Readiness Reviews
Tip
Establish trust and understand your communication chains and channels well before launch