The use of product line based checkout systems for payload processing

Launching payloads into space continues to be a weekly occurrence around the world. Although it is becoming commonplace, it has not become a low-cost or low-risk, quick and simple process. Due to these conditions, concepts have been developed and efforts are underway to create a generic set of processes and tools that will advance payload processing into the 21/sup st/ Century, making it more efficient and less complicated. These new approaches include developing more cost effective processes with shorter cycle times, and require fewer resources than in the past. The recently developed concepts and projects address the life cycle of payload processing through product line strategies, integrating agency and customer needs and requirements, and support geographically distributed processing. Of these, the concept with the greatest impact to the launch site is the use of product line strategy. By converting payload processing systems to a product line based on a core system of common checkout technologies, large reductions in Operations and Maintenance (O&M), Sustaining, and Logistics costs can be realized. Furthermore, the increased compatibility between systems will enable the seamless interchange of data products and applications. Finally, long-term savings will be realized by enabling the creation of additional products in the line for the support of new programs while avoiding the reengineering of common assets. For this goal to become a reality, however, care must be taken in the design of the architecture upon which the checkout systems are based. This architecture must be constructed with the entire domain of checkout system applications within its scope. By combining this comprehensive architecture with generic software components, the various capabilities - including the front-end interfaces can be abstracted from the design of the overall system, allowing for a configurable multi-use core system that is extensible to the various situation specific systems required throughout the lifecycle of a payload.