What are the best practices for mission planning and operations?

1 Define mission objectives and requirements

The first step in mission planning and operations is to define the mission objectives and requirements, such as the scientific goals, the payload, the orbit, the launch vehicle, the budget, the schedule, and the risks. These factors will guide the development of the mission architecture, the subsystems, the interfaces, and the operations concept. You should also identify the stakeholders, customers, and users of the mission, and communicate with them regularly to ensure alignment and satisfaction.

2 Perform trade studies and analyses

The next step is to perform trade studies and analyses to evaluate different design options and select the optimal ones for the mission. Trade studies and analyses can include performance, cost, reliability, safety, complexity, and environmental impact. You should use appropriate tools and methods, such as simulations, models, experiments, and reviews, to support your decision making and document your rationale and assumptions.

3 Develop mission operations plan and procedures

The mission operations plan and procedures describe how the mission will be executed and controlled, from pre-launch to end-of-life. They include the roles and responsibilities of the mission team, the operational modes and scenarios, the commands and data flows, the contingency plans and fault management, and the performance metrics and evaluation. You should develop the mission operations plan and procedures in collaboration with the launch provider, the ground segment, and the payload provider, and validate them through testing and rehearsal.

4 Conduct mission readiness review and launch readiness review

The mission readiness review and launch readiness review are formal assessments that verify that the mission is ready to proceed to the next phase. The mission readiness review evaluates the overall readiness of the mission system, including the spacecraft, the launch vehicle, the ground segment, and the payload. The launch readiness review evaluates the specific readiness of the launch vehicle, the launch site, the range, and the weather. You should conduct these reviews with the participation of all relevant parties, and resolve any issues or anomalies before proceeding.

5 Execute mission operations and monitor mission performance

The execution of mission operations involves sending commands to the spacecraft, receiving telemetry data from the spacecraft, analyzing the data, and performing any necessary adjustments or corrections. You should follow the mission operations plan and procedures, and use reliable and secure communication systems and software. You should also monitor the mission performance, such as the spacecraft health, the orbit accuracy, the payload function, and the mission objectives achievement. You should report any problems or deviations, and implement corrective actions or contingency plans as needed.

6 Conduct mission closeout and lessons learned

The mission closeout and lessons learned are the final steps in mission planning and operations. They involve terminating the mission operations, disposing of the spacecraft, archiving the data, and evaluating the mission outcomes. You should conduct a post-mission analysis to compare the actual performance with the expected performance, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of the mission. You should also document the lessons learned, best practices, recommendations, and feedback from the mission, and share them with the relevant stakeholders and communities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?