Airborne Observatory Operations Associate

This SBIR proposes to apply knowledge based systems (KBS) technology to the operational support of Ames airborne observatories to assist in reducing mission turn around time. Phase I has two objectives: establish the feasibility of developing a Knowledge-based Observatory Management System (KOMS); produce a system design for a Phase 11 program to develop a high utility support capability. Five tasks are proposed to achieve those objectives: 1 ) airborne observatory (AO) operations domain analysis, 2) visionary system story boarding, 3) preliminary end- to-end system design, 4) technology assessment, and 5) Phase 11 KOMS development plan construction. The Phase I program will result in an AO domain model and operational case, a process model and operational scenario, a user validated storyboard demo, a preliminary system architecture, a functional technology requirement list, a technology assignment list, a critical experiment list, and a Phase 11 development plan. The KOMS KBS- based operations associate can provide an innovative means to automating aspects of Ames AO operations. KOMS can assist in providing near term reduction in mission turn around time on KUIPER and can provide early evaluation of the potential use of KBS technology in future platforms such as SOFIA.