Most of a mission's viability, cost and safety is affected by the people responsible for its operation. These people are mission planners, launch and flight controllers, pilots and remote explorers, facilities and maintenance staff, and myriad engineers responsible for preserving and applying knowledge in the design phase and throughout the life of the mission.
Information technology has a dramatic influence on mission operations. Key capabilities and research thrusts include:
Human-Centered Computing
Approaches to design, evaluate, and enhance entire work-systems of people, facilities, devices, procedures, communications, information, and support technologies relative to mission objectives. Major thrusts within Human-Centered Computing are:
- Work systems design, modeling, simulation, and evaluation
- Procedure design, modeling, validation, training, and execution support
- User centered design
- Integrated Field tests
- Crew and team organizational design and modeling
- Flight deck and mission operations facilities design and evaluation
Situation Awareness and Decision Support Systems
Methods to improve situation awareness and support decision making in complex, mission-critical situations. Examples include mixed-initiative planning and scheduling tools, launch and range management systems, and integrated simulations supporting what-if analysis. Major thrusts within Situation Awareness and Decision Support Systems are:
- Decision support systems and simulations
- Mixed-initiative planning and scheduling
- Launch and range modeling and operations
- Virtual Iron Bird technologies
PDF: Virtual Iron Bird, Virtual Iron Bird Systems Thinking , Mixed Initiative Activity Planning
Multi-Modal Interfaces and Human Factors
More natural and effective capabilities for people to interact with robots, information systems, and each other across time and space. Major thrusts within Multi-Modal Interfaces and Human Factors are:
- Speech, dialog, gesture, audio tones, brain/machine interface
- Visualization, Virtual reality, heads-up displays, augmented cognition, usability
Complex Information and Knowledge Management
Approaches and technologies to manage heterogeneous and evolving data, information, and knowledge over all phases of a mission and across missions. Major thrusts within Complex Information and Knowledge Management are\
- Structured, XML, and unstructured search and information retrieval
- Distributed databases and storage concepts
- Middleware and interoperability components, services and portals
- Semantic data organization, metadata management, and ontologies
- Lessons learned and expertise capture
- Distributed and asynchronous communication and collaboration
- Intelligent and mobile wireless networks
PDF: Collaborative Info Portal
+ Freedom of Information Act
+ Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
+ The President's Management Agenda
+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
and Accessibility Certification
+ Inspector General Hotline
+ Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant
to the No Fear Act
+ Information-Dissemination Priorities and Inventories
NASA Official: Dave Korsmeyer
Curated By: Asani Solutions