Code 589 Technologies and Products

WFF Mission Planning Lab (MPL)

Principal Investigator (PI)

• Ben Cervantes/Code 589
• Benjamin.W.Cervantes@nasa.gov

Description and Objectives

• MPL provides in-depth analysis of mission characteristics supporting pre-launch mission formulation and planning, real-time data monitoring and display, and post-flight data analysis and investigation.
• MPLX will expand MPL's capabilities to include suborbital mission design studies to assist principle investigators with proposals for suborbital missions. MPLX will leverage existing WFF expertise in designing, implementing, testing, and executing suborbital missions.

Recent MPL Support - Antares (Safety Training), LADEE RF Analysis

Technical Approach

• Gather customer requirements and produce any of a host of deliverables both visual and analytical based.
• Iterative process based on new inputs (i.e. - alternate trajectories, new ground assets).
• Build new tools and new capabilities based on new requirements from customers; infuse capabilities/tools into existing processes to streamline and expand future products.

Main Innovation(s)

• Mission visualization and simulation
• RF Communications Link Analysis Tool
• Visualization in Real-Time Experiment (VIRTEx)
• Sky Screener launch range Safety training (ELV)

Infusion Potential

• MPLX - Expanded MPL for suborbital, special orbital, and CubeSat mission design studies.
• VIRTEx, MPL spin-off project, as an alternate real-time mission visualization source.
• Sky Screen training tool for launch ranges.