The Spacecraft Emergency Response System (SERS) For Autonomous Mission Operations

Abstract

Today, most mission operations are geared toward lowering cost through unmanned operations. 7-day/24-hour operations are reduced to either 5-day/8-hour operations or become totally autonomous, especially for deep-space missions. Proper and effective notification during a spacecraft emergency could mean success or failure for an entire mission.

The Spacecraft Emergency Response System (SERS) is a tool designed for autonomous mission operations. The SERS automatically contacts on-call personnel as needed when crises occur, either on-board the spacecraft or within the automated ground systems. Plus, the SERS provides a group-ware solution to facilitate the work of the person(s) contacted.

The SERS is independent of the spacecraft’s automated ground system. It receives and catalogues reports for various ground system components in near real-time. Then, based on easily configurable parameters, the SERS determines whom, if anyone, should be alerted. Alerts may be issued either via Sky-Tel 2-way pager, Telephony, or e-mail. The alerted personnel can then review and respond to the spacecraft anomalies through the Netscape Internet Web Browser, or directly review and respond from the Sky-Tel 2-way pager.

To date, nine missions have chosen the SERS for its adaptability to various ground systems and its low-cost commercial off-the-shelf availability. Research efforts continue to add collaboration tools such as white-boarding, video conferencing, and palm-top devices to the SERS system. For details, please visit our NASA Web site at:

http://groucho.gsfc.nasa.gov/Code_520/Code_522/Projects/VMOC/vmocers.html