Data management in the mission data system

As spacecraft systems evolve from simple embedded devices to become more sophisticated computing platforms with complex behaviors it is increasingly necessary to model and manage the flow of data, and to provide uniform models for managing data that promote adaptability, yet pay heed to the physical limitations of the embedded and space environments. The mission data system (MDS) defines a software architecture in which both control theory and end-to-end data management provide the primary guiding principles. This paper describes how the MDS architecture facilitates data accountability and storage resource management.