Deep space mission operations: reality or vision?

The deep space mission operations process has changed over the years, and our service is perceived to be overly expensive. But in fact, costs have dropped recently, mainly due to improved approaches to missions. Missions are experimental by nature, and science and engineering improvements have accommodated their increasing complexity. Operations have steadily evolved and kept pace. The result is increased science return. This paper discusses the new reality-operations must view each mission afresh, taking nothing for granted. Operations continually reviews mission plans progress and anticipates problems, adjusting quickly so requirements are met on time. This paper looks at operations history, its present state, and advances new ideas so we in operations will better evolve and adapt, constantly increasing our efficiency to meet customers' ever more complex needs.