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AIAA Member Price: $1,595 USD
Non-Member Price: $1,795 USD
AIAA Student Member Price: $995 USD

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OUTLINE

• Mission Operations – The formation of a tightly integrated, efficient, and effective operational team
• Principles of Mission Control – Foundations for values, culture and teamwork
• Plan, Train, Fly – The process of flight operations
• Cultural Integration – Local, Regional, Global
• Fundamentals of Flight Operations – Case studies and lessons learned
• Human Factors
• Spaceflight Resource Management
• Team Interactions and Interdependency
• Philosophy of Failure and Redundancy Management
• Guidance for Future Mission Control Centers

• The Evolution of Mission Engineering – Mercury through Space Shuttle and ISS
• A Bridge between the Designers and Mission Control
• Assumptions, Constraints and Operational Limits
• Simplified Analysis
• Time Scales of Solution Engineering
• Levels of Awareness
• The Importance of Data
• Lessons Learned for Future Missions

• Power Systems for Spacecraft – History and evolution
• Power System Elements and Design
• Power System Architectures – ISS as most complex example to date.
• Sizing, Degradation, Operational Constraints
• Power Operations – Monitoring and system Interactions
• Malfunction Analysis and Criticality of Data
• Failure Modes and Redundancy
• Practical Examples and Case Studies

• The Evolution of Life Support Systems
• Crew Support Requirements
• Atmosphere Control and Supply
• Atmosphere Revitalization
• Fire Detection and Suppression
• Temperature and Humidity Control
• Water Recovery and Management
• Regenerative Life Support
• Failure Management and Emergencies

• The Evolution of Space Communications
• Communication Theory and Applications
• Command and Data Handling Systems and Processes
• Space Shuttle and ISS C3 Systems
• Crew Control, Monitoring and Command Interfaces
• Space C3 Lessons Learned
• The Future of C3

• The Thermal Environment of Space
• Thermal Control - Background Theory (Conduction, Convection, Radiation)
• Elements of a Spacecraft Thermal Systems – Active and Passive Thermal Devices
• Thermal Control Operations—Mission Control and On-Orbit
• Support and Interactions with Other Systems
• Failure Modes, Redundancy and Malfunction Response
• Practical Examples and Case Studies

• Trajectory Design from Gemini through Apollo and Shuttle/ISS
• Orbital Mechanics Concepts – Time systems, Coordinate systems, orbital elements, 2-body equations, perturbations, propagation methods, spacecraft attitude, maneuvers.
• Spacecraft Navigation
• Launch Windows
• Collision Avoidance
• Burn Targeting Operations
• Rendezvous Strategies
• Mission Monitoring and Analysis Tools
• Off-Nominal Scenarios
• Lessons for Future Missions

Guidance, Navigation, Control (GNC) and Propulsion

• Architecture of GNC Systems
• Development and Operations of Navigation (Position and Attitude) Sensors
• State Vector Determination
• Ascent and Entry Navigation
• Fault Detection Isolation & Recovery (FDIR)
• Powered Flight Guidance Systems - Ascent Guidance and Aborts
• Entry Guidance – Capsules vs Space Shuttle
• Spacecraft Control Systems
• Propulsive vs Gyro Attitude Control
• Control/Structure Interactions
• Manual Control Modes - Requirements for Human Rated Spacecraft
• Hand Controllers and Handling Qualities
• Propulsion Systems
• Thrusters
• Orbital Maneuvers, Attitude Maneuvers
• Propellant Gauging and Management
• Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Extravehicular Activity

• History and Evolution of Extravehicular Activity
• Spacesuit Systems and Design Considerations
• Airlock Operations and Pre-Breathe Protocols
• EVA Tools, Equipment, Interfaces
• EVA Training and Facilities – Neutral Buoyancy, Zero-G, Virtual Reality
• Mission EVA Development
• New Challenges for the Spacewalks of the Future – Moon & Mars
• Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Space Robotics

• Types of Space Robotics – Probes, Landers, Manipulators
• Challenges of Space vs Terrestrial Robots
• Design of Robotic Systems – Space Shuttle and ISS Systems
• Principles of Space Manipulators
• Work envelope, singularities, joint limits, self-collision
• Reference frames
• Forward-Inverse kinematics
• Modes of Operation – Automatic, Manual
• Failure Management and Response – Redundancy and fault tolerance
• Operational Considerations and Tools – Trajectory planning
• ISS Robotic Operations – Capture, Contingency Procedures, EVA Support
• Team Coordination – Ground and crew communication
• Training and Facilities – Preflight crew and ground, onboard currency
• Lessons Learned and Future Robotic Operations

Science and Payload Operations

• Evolution of Payload Operations – Skylab, Spacelab, Space Shuttle and ISS
• ISS Timeline—From the Perspective of Payload Operations
• ISS - A One-of-a-Kind Research Facility
• Scope of Onboard Science - Facilities and Capabilities
• Payload Operations Integration
• Strategic, Tactical and Operational Phases
• Development, installation, operations, analysis
• Payload Operations Case Studies and Lessons Learned
• Science and Research Operations in the Future

Spaceflight Medical Operations

• Astronaut Health
• Space Physiology – Launch, Microgravity, Landing
• Space Motion Sickness, Cardiovascular Effects, Musculoskeletal
• Neurovestibular, Radiation, Toxicology, Immunology, Microbiology, Nutrition
• Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)
• Medical Aspects of Spacewalking (EVA)
• Barotrauma, Decompression Sickness
• Evolution of Pre-Breathe Protocols
• The Suit vs Astronaut – Musculoskeletal Injuries, Nutrition, Hydration, Waste
• Physiology of Return to Gravity
• Historical Medical Events
• Medical Preparedness – Biomedical Team, Crew Training, Onboard Equipment
• Landing Support
• Future Space Medicine – Altered gravity, isolation, hostile environments, radiation, and distance from Earth

 Mission Planning

• Skylab 4 Case Study – Early Lessons Learned for Mission Planning
• Elements of Mission Planning
• Team Dynamics – Systems, Priorities, Organizations, Countries
• Mission Planning Evolution from Mercury through ISS
• Mission Planning and Project Management
• Short and Long Duration Missions
• Managing Rules, Limitations and Constraints
• Plan Development Cycle
• US vs Russian Approaches to Planning
• A Day in the Life of ISS
• Mission Planning Lessons Learned
• The Future of Mission Planning
  

Mission Safety

• The Columbia Accident - Case Study and Lessons Learned
• Spaceflight Safety
• Defining Safety and Risk – Causes of Accidents
• Learning from Human Spaceflight Accidents
• Responses to Perceived Risk – Continuous Risk Management
• Engineering Changes
• Revised Regulations or Rules
• Improving Human Behavior – Crew Resource Management
• Improving Organizational Structure
• Risk Analysis – Likelihood vs Consequences Risk Matrix
• Hazard Analysis and Control
• Where is Human Spaceflight Now?
• Safety Recommendations for Future Spaceflight Operations

Astronaut Operations

• A Brief History of Astronauts from the Mercury 7 to the Present
• Spaceflight Training and Facilities – Short vs Long Duration Missions
• Dynamic Flight – Launch, Rendezvous and Entry
• Living and Working in Space – Arrival, Operations, Habitability, Crew Systems, Food
• On-Orbit Operations and Lessons Learned
• Installation, Maintenance and Repair
• Onboard Equipment and Tools
• Inventory and Stowage
• Alarms and Emergencies
• Maintaining Mental and Physical Health
• Crew Efficiency
• Lessons Learned for Future Missions

INSTRUCTORS

Lead Instructor: Dr. Gregory E. Chamitoff is the William Keeler '49 Professor of Practice in Aerospace Engineering, and Director of the AeroSpace Technology Research & Operations (ASTRO) Laboratory at Texas A&M University. His research includes space robotics, autonomous systems, and the development of collaborative VR simulation environments for space system engineering and mission design. Originally from Montreal, Canada, he served as a NASA Astronaut for 15 years, including Shuttle Missions STS-124, 126, 134 and Space Station long duration missions Expedition 17 and 18. He lived and worked in Space for almost 200 days as a Flight Engineer, Science Officer, and Mission Specialist. His last mission was on the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, during which he performed two spacewalks, including the last of the Shuttle era, which also completed the assembly of the International Space Station. In Mission Control, Chamitoff served as a flight controller and later as Lead CAPCOM in support of ongoing missions. Chamitoff earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cal Poly, M.S. in Aeronautics from Caltech, and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. He also holds a minor and a Master’s in Planetary (Space) Science. A recipient of two NASA Spaceflight Medals and the NASA Exceptional and Distinguished Service Medals, he was inducted into the California Space Authority Astronaut Hall of Fame. Dr. Chamitoff serves as the Board Chair for the Texas Space Grant Consortium and is an AIAA Associate Fellow. 

Lecturers:
Ed Van Cise - Mission Execution
Dr. George James - Mission Engineering
Scott Simmons - Space Power Systems
Barry Tobias - Environmental Control and Life Support Systems
Dan Jackson - Command, Control, Communications
Andrew Rose - Thermal Control Systems
Aaron Brown - Trajectory Design and Operations
Kenneth Longacre - Guidance, Navigation and Control
Jordan Lindsey - Extravehicular Activity
Megan Levins - Space Robotics
Eric Melkerson - Science Operations
Dr. Joe Dervay - Spaceflight Medicine
Alex Moore - Mission Planning
David Witwer - Mission Safety

Classroom hours / CEUs: 34 classroom hours / 3.4 CEU/PDH

Contact: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have questions about the course or group discounts (for 5+ participants).