User Interfaces

The TSC provides operational support to command, monitor, and control flight experiments. The TSC houses the flight operations consoles and EGSE for ISS life sciences experiments including the TSC operations teams and the PD operations team(s).

In addition to a centralized mode of operation, the TSC will have the capability to support the real-time operations of experimenters located at remote sites. This support may include the functions of transmitting raw or processed experiment data, scheduling and timeline data, tracking data, ISS environmental data, and A/G and/or S/G voice.

Life Sciences Data System

The Life Sciences Data System (LSDS) was developed by the Life Sciences Data System Group to support the TSC ground operations. The LSDS provides real-time data acquisition, archival, decoding, preprocessing, playback and viewing of telemetry data through the MIRAGE application on a workstation environment.

The LSDS processes AOS and LOS data from the PDSS, performs data storage/archival and handles all of the real-time data processing. Analog data is generated and may be sent to multiple users. Distributed data is encrypted for privacy.

LSDS Command and Control Interface (CCI)

The LSDS CCI provides the Command Handler Services for the LSDS environments. LSDS is accessed through Microsoftâ Internet Explorer or Netscapeâ Communicator using the CCI. CCI was designed to provide the following capabilities:

• Activate and deactivate the LSDS systems.
• Start or stop acquisition and archival of telemetry data from CCI to client workstations.
• Activate and deactivate the data decoder, preprocessor and playback services.
• Command interface between Real-time Data Storage System (RDSS) and LSDS configuration status.
• Access Database Management Systems (DBMS), Raw Data browsing, and LSDA catalog services.

LSDS Server

The LSDS Server supports the acquisition, pre-processing, command and control process, and storage of real-time and playback of telemetry data.

LSDS Database

The LSDS database online provides up-to-date information about the data stream rate, sockets, experiments, devices, servers, and their relationships. The database includes the following features/selections:

• Inquire Information - to search on stream, experiment, device and server information. • Update Database - to add or delete information. • Download Data Files - to create or download experiment, stream or server data files. • General Experiment Information – to provide an overview of experiments. • Experiment Parameters Information - to search, add, update, or delete experiment parameters. • Raw Data File Catalog - to search, download, upload, update, delete and view raw data files. • Data System Action Request - to report, track, analyze, and resolve problems regarding LSDA.

Open SCR System

The Open Strip Chart Recorder (SCR) system is a program that plots experiment parameters versus time using the Graphtec SCR. The program uses TCP/IP for communication and runs on RDSS server and DOS client environments.

The RDSS server receives the client requests for data connection and acquires data from the available UDP streams. It extracts and formats the requested parameter data and sends it to the client through a TCP connection.

The SCR receives experiment data and data time as input and plots traces of data versus time on the SCR. In addition to data, the SCR records time and parameter annotations on the SCR paper.

The SCR supports concurrent strip chart outputs to one or more recorders and accepts commands from interactive users for activation and deactivation.

Microsystem Integrated Real-Time Acquisition Ground Equipment

The MIRAGE workstation application was developed to support real-time and post processing of experiment data displays. The system extracts, converts, and manipulates decoded experiment data from the RDSS server transmitted over the UDP network sockets and displays the data in textual, plots and tabular formats. The MIRAGE workstation display activation automatically starts the RDSSs acquisition, decoding, and preprocessing of data streams.

Mission Control Center - Houston Workstation

The MCC-H workstation is the gateway to viewing command and telemetry data. Each workstation consists of 2 monitors, a keyboard and a mouse

The MCC-H uses a distributed architecture that utilizes networked workstations at each console position. As downlink telemetry is received, the MCC-H environment distributes it over the network as data streams, which are accessed by the workstation at multiple control positions. The MCC-H workstation capabilities include ISS, Shuttle and experiment related visibility.

The MCC-H workstation is configured for support of pre-flight simulations and flight operations by the assigned Payload Operations Group Administrator. The GC is responsible for ensuring that all software is available upon logging on to the workstation. Each person logging into the workstation must obtain a login ID, and a Computer Access Request (CAR) form must be completed and submitted to the GC for processing.

Payload Information Management System

The Payload Information Management System (PIMS) is an electronic information management system used by PDs, Project teams, PIs and the POIC cadre for integrated payload planning and execution. The primary purpose of PIMS is to provide centralized payload operations information management for controlling changes to payload experiments. PIMS supports real-time mission operations, simulations, and short-term planning cycles simultaneously. It also provides pre-mission support of mission document preparation and configuration management.

PIMS provides for off-line pre-mission and on-line mission document configuration management as well as on-line mission management services for ISS. The PIMS database provides user access to operations execution information, mission planning data, timeline procedures and mission documentation. The system also supports complex payload user operations via an electronic form management system that enables users to submit real-time ISS Operations Change Requests (OCRs). All PIMS capabilities are available via a web interface.