GOES-R Series EXIS Remote Monitor and Command

For large spaceflight systems, engineers, operators, and support staff are distributed across a variety of subcontractors and physical locations. These physical separations can create logistical challenges for large missions which directly translate to negative mission costs and schedule impacts. In an ever increasingly interconnected world, there are numerous benefits to remote connectivity. This paper discusses the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, R Series (GOES-R) Extreme ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors (EXIS) Remote Monitor and Command (RMC) system used to support the GOES-17 (formerly GOES-S) Spacecraft Integration and Test (I&T) campaign at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in Boulder, Colorado. While remote access to flight-critical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) is standard for many I&T campaigns, the RMC takes this paradigm further by providing real-time operations and test support from the sub-contractor's home location to the spacecraft integration facility. Programmatic benefits of the RMC include reduced logistics, reduced travel, and associated cost savings. Personnel and team benefits of the RMC include reduced time away from home, less interruption to personal lives, and greater flexibility for personnel absence due to illness or other matters. Network and data security is the largest concern when operating remotely. This paper presents the RMC solution for data security and the architecture to support secure operations in realtime utilizing flight critical GSE that includes encrypted access over the internet to the remote testing facility. Virtual presence of the test-team at the spacecraft integration facility is another major concern and this paper will present the RMC solution for keeping teams integrated and connected even while each sub-contractor remains at their home location by utilizing the long-standing Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) operational voice network. A programmatic cost benefit comparison between the GOES-16 (formerly GOES-R) traditional I&T and the GOES-17 Remote I&T campaigns is presented. Risk reduction in system implementation, current limitations, and recommendations for future improvements or new systems is also discussed in detail.