The Development of a User Interface for Mixed-Initiative Plan Management for Human Spaceflight

Abstract

Deep space travel presents a diverse set of challenges. Of significant concern is the time lag in communication between the crew and mission control as the vehicle travels farther from Earth. Currently, ground based mission control is tasked with managing all aspects of flight, including the creation and management of crew flight plans. However, as communication becomes delayed, ground control will no longer be able to perform these duties effectively. Thus, we are proposing the design of a mixed-initiative plan (MIP) management system to provide crews with greater autonomy in adapting plans to reflect the current state of the mission. Successful MIP systems contain a formal representation of the work, computational methods to optimize potential solutions, and a user interface for which crewmembers may interact with the schedule. This paper details the creation of the user interface from requirements derivation through preliminary design.