COSMOS: The Spaceport Knowledge Framework

In this COSMOS effort, Modus Operandi will develop the approach to constructing a meta-model of the enterprise for the spaceport at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This unifying model will provide the means to tie together numerous heterogeneous,distributed sources of information. With the COSMOS model, the Space Wing and its customers and support contractors will be able to collaborate and share information in ways that are well beyond the capabilities of existing information systems.A COSMOS meta-model makes it possible to build high-payback applications that would not be feasible without a unified model because so many organizations contribute data. The initial target application is range resource management. The range's diverseset of resources include, for example, the pad, facilities (assembly, payload processing and test), telemetry, and radars. Resource managers must allocate resources in response to requests from customers of the range and balance these requests againstdowntime for range upgrades and preventive maintenance. Because resource management is a complex problem, it is a rich test case for meta-modeling and will uncover unification issues. The immediate benefit to the 45th Space Wing Range Squadron isefficient resource allocation. The integrated meta-model will enable them to identify and resolve resource conflicts in real time, and reduce the manpower costs of achieving visibility into how resources are utilized for spaceport processing.The long range benefits of the COSMOS meta-modeling activity are to provide the 45th Space Wing with unprecedented visibility into the information pertaining to the spaceport enterprise. Visibility and rapid access to information will reduce lost timespent tracking down information, and will make it possible to accurately assess costs.Tools and techniques developed under the COSMOS effort will be directly applicable to commercial enterprise integration efforts. By tackling the difficult meta-model issues, COSMOS will reduce the cost of enterprise integration, and thus makeenterprise-wide solutions more feasible.