Objective:

Investigators will document experimental and analytic methods used by NASA scientists during the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) mission, capturing elements that work well. These design elements will be carried over into a multi-mission operations system being built for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. New concepts and tools will be made available to future missions, which should permit increased experimentation. In particular, investigators will model science assessment by an Atmospheric Theme Group (ATG) Lead viewing download data, and actions of the Science Operations Working Group (SOWG) Chair and Long-Term Planning (LTP) Theme Group Lead in SOWG meetings. Detailed observations will be made to verify and validate these models and to fill in any gaps.

Applications:

Improved science operations for MSL and subsequent exploratory missions.

NASA Benefit:

This research task will model and analyze MER operations data, documenting infrastructure features and operations concepts that should be incorporated in later rover missions (such as MSL). One goal is safe, efficient human-robotic operations with reduced cost.

Keywords:

MER science team studies, MSL science operations planning, work-practice analysis, modeling

Prior Technology:

Duplication of the previous mission's operations, with changes as the need becomes evident.

FY04 Milestone:

Assess model of ATG Lead; model the SOWG chair and LTP Lead.

FY04 Quadchart Slide:

HCC_DIR_Clancey_SciOps.ppt.

Accomplishments:

Plan for demonstrating MER model-based system lessons to MSL.

Contacts:

William J. Clancey (PI), Ames Research Center (Code TI).
Chin H. Seah (Co-I), SAIC at ARC.