Utilizing virtual missions to achieve real operations savings

As part of the Constellation Program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began preparation for a simulated Ares I/Orion mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Designated as Virtual Mission 1 (VM-1), it simulated the integration milestones and successfully executed a crew rotation mission, culminating with a “launch” on June 19, 2009 and a “splashdown” of the returning Orion capsule a few weeks later. The accomplishments of this activity were significant in that a baseline schedule as well as many of the operations activities and integrated products were identified and developed by a small, focused group across NASA. This group was selected to leverage the operations expertise gained from the Space Shuttle, ISS and other NASA programs. By using legacy systems and processes, the Constellation Program cost-effectively prepared for early missions. A small number of these virtual missions were scheduled prior to the first actual mission in order to improve the mission development process. The theory was as the vehicle design and mission objectives matured the mission operations concept would mature; therefore, the Constellation Program could take advantage of the lessons learned during the virtual missions to reduce life-cycle costs and risks. Concentrating on the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Ares I launch vehicle tasks, the authors, working in close coordination with design engineers, proposed integration schedules, operations tools, products, and analyses to give: 1) a smart estimate of the operational tasks required to integrate and fly a real mission and 2) ways to achieve real cost savings in the operational phase. This paper describes the virtual mission integration schedule, requirements and deliverables developed for the Ares I vehicle. It also describes several off nominal events simulated as part of VM-1. The paper concludes by assessing the virtual mission concept and suggesting ways to make it even more effective.