Mission Logistics

SARP July 2009

Marilyn Vasques
Background
Earth Science Project
Office
 Project Management

Pre-Mission Services
Pre-Deployment Services
Deployment Services
Post-Deployment Services

Multiple missions per year

 ESPO Team

Michael Craig - ESPO Director

Marilyn Vasques - Deputy Director
Mike Gaunce - Project Manager
Dave Jordan - Project Manager
Kent Shiffer - Project Manager
Quincy Allison - Network / Logistics
Dan Chirica - Software Programmer
Katja Drdla - Data Archive Manager
Sue Tolley - Instrument Coordinator
Robert Morthel - Project Coordinator

NASA’s Earth Science Project Office (ESPO) is a small group of

highly motivated individuals that are dedicated to managing
NASA’s Earth Science field missions. We provide support in all
facets of field project management.
 HQ Program Focus Areas
Atmospheric Composition
Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling and Analysis Program - Phil Decola
Radiation Sciences Program - Hal Maring
Tropospheric Chemistry Program - Jay Al-Saadi
Upper Atmosphere Research Program - Ken Jucks

Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems

Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry Program - Ramesh Kakar

Weather and Forecasting

Atmospheric Dynamics and Remote Sensing Program - Ramesh Kakar

Water and Energy Cycles

Cryospheric Program – Thomas Wagner

Airborne Science
Suborbital Sciences Program – Andy Roberts
Airborne Science Aircraft
Airborne Science Aircraft
 Pre-Mission Services

• Mission Plan and Schedule

– Coordinate with HQ Program Manager,
Project
Scientists, and flight operations to
formulate the mission plan and schedule

• Panel Review
– Participate in selection

• Instrument Payload Development

– Participate in development and
modifications required based on science
requirements
 Pre-Mission Services

• Site Survey
– Conduct site survey
– Issue reports regarding feasibility,
cost & concerns
– Provide recommendation
 Pre-Mission Services

• Budget
– Prepare and track mission budget

• Flight Requests
– Submit and track FR
 Pre-Mission Services

• International Agreements
– Develop International agreements
through State
Department

• Clearances
– Obtain aircraft Diplomatic / ATC
clearances
– Ensure other clearances are in place
(ie lidar, radar)

• Contracts
– Establish contractual agreements
concerning: hotels, aircraft support,
and local providers
 Pre-Mission Services

• Develop agreements with host

organizations including:
– Military base / Airport clearances,
privileges and restrictions
– Required lab and office facilities
– Prepare funding agreements
– Provide duty, customs, and other tax /
fee exemption agreements
– Obtain Air Force airlift support
– Coordinate shipping services
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Requirements
– Compile aircraft / investigator
requirements

• Layouts
– Design, modify and layout assignments
of available spaces
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Set-up facility operation of:

– Electrical power / AC / Heat for
aircraft, offices, and labs
– Communication networks - (voice,
data)
– Weather satellite imagery equipment
– Provide needed security measures
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Facilities
– Labs: Furnish and maintain facility
with Lab / Office
» furniture - (tables, chairs,
chemical cabinets, refrigerator,
etc).
» wireless and phone support
– Meeting room: Set up
– Break room:
Furnish (coffee,
microwave,
refrigerator, etc)
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Obtain ground support equipment for

each aircraft
– Tug, stairs, stands, belt
loader, power cart etc.
– Services - lav, nitrogen etc.

• Import / Export
– Regulations and restrictions
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Contacts
– Create, maintain & publish mission
participant contact lists
– Coordinate telecons for management,
science and aircraft teams
• Mission review
– Identify potential issues that could
affect mission and publish emergency
evacuation guidelines
– Coordinate and lead the Mission
Readiness Review
 Pre-Deployment Services

• Outreach & Public Affairs

– Coordinate with Educational Outreach
participants
– Coordinate press releases and
interviews
– Develop & maintain mission website
and produce graphics
– Arrange video and photo documentation

• Data
– Establish Data Protocol, and maintain
data archive
 Deployment Services

• Integration - aircraft sites

– Manage instrument integration and
test flights
 Deployment Services

• Set up - deployment site 1 week

prior
– Obtain needed consumables including:
» Science requirements - (cryogens,
gasses)
» Office supplies - (copiers, fax,
paper, pens, etc.)
» General services - (water,
janitorial)
– Handle shipping and receiving to and
from deployment site
 Deployment Services

• Set Up (cont)
– Handle on-site finances / local
purchases
– Finalize all agreements

•Orientation
– Locate and publish local information
regarding:
» Transportation,
» Housing,
» Restaurants
» Safety & Medical
» local regulations
– Set up local airport
and embassy orientation
– Create emergency contact list
 Deployment Services

• Communication & Coordination

– Provide instrument coordination to
maintain communication on:
» Instrument status and readiness
» Aircraft status and availability
schedules
» Integration and flight schedules
» Problem solving
 Deployment Services

• Communication & Coordination

– Disseminate mission schedules and
status thru:
» E-mail
» Mission website
– Maintain daily communication /
coordination with host
– Setup and coordinate science meetings
/ flight debriefings
 Deployment Services

• Coordination
– Coordinate with HQ on mission public
affairs including:
» Press briefings, interviews, news
releases
» Set up and conduct open houses,
school tours
» Educational outreach programs
 Post Mission Services

• Closeout
– Make final closure with hosts and
local accounts
– Report mission performance and
status
– Write letters of appreciation
– Relay lessons learned
– Set-up post mission science
meetings / workshops
– Produce mission data archive data
– Publish mission result
 Mission Support
Tasks:
Overall Office Management
Interagency Relations Larger Missions: Medium Missions: Smaller Missions:
Headquarters Reporting
ESPO Budget Income
Science Requirements Project Manager Project Manager Project Manager
NRA Preparation & Panels
Mission Budget & Grants
Deployment Site Surveys
Project Planning &
Aircraft & Ground
Schedules Co-Project Manager
Requirements
Mission Management
Military Airlift Support Co-Project Manager /
Operations Coordination Instrument Coord.
Project Contracting
Instrument &
Coordination
Purchasing Instrument / Project
Aircraft Daily Schedules Instrument Coord.
Radio
Project&Lab Layouts Coordinator
Telecommunications
Airport & Base Security Project Coordinator
Instrument
ConferencesRequirements
& Meetings
Hotels & Transportation Project Coordinator
Personnel Coordination
Project
Network Email
and Distribution
Security
Project Logistics Network & Logistics Network & Logistics
Airlift Support Network & Logistics
Coordination
Web Design & Graphics Web & Archive
Site setup & Construction Web & Database
Computer Support
Web & Archive
Educational Outreach
Field Data Archive Satellite & Archive
Satellite Receiver System

ESPO employs a strategic management approach with a

strong emphasis on mission goals that establishes a
work environment for a high performance work force.
The team’s solid commitment and experience is what
makes it stand apart from other organizations and
 Past Missions

ESPO has long history of managing very

successful, complex, national (14)
and international (23), multimillion
dollar Earth Science research
campaigns to date.
Missions Locations
http://www.espo.nasa.gov
 2009 Mission Activities

Operation Ice Bridge

Thule, Greenland / Punta Arenas, Chile /
Christchurch, New Zealand

Characterization of Arctic Sea Ice Experiment

Svalbard, Norway

GloPac – Global Hawk Pacific Mission

Dryden, CA
 GloPac
Global Hawk Pacific Mission Dryden, CA
Summer 2009
Proposed flights of the Global Hawk for the Global Hawk Pacific Mission
(GloPac) are to be conducted in support of the Aura Validation Experiment
(AVE). This mission will take place out of Dryden Flight Research Center and is
expected to encompass the entire offshore Pacific region with four to five 30
hour flights.
GloPac - Science Objectives:
•1) Validation and scientific collaboration with NASA earth-monitoring satellite
missions, principally the Aura satellite
•2) Observations of stratospheric trace gases in the upper troposphere and
lower stratosphere from the mid-latitudes into the tropics,
•3) Sampling of polar stratospheric air and the break-up fragments of the that air
that move into the mid-latitudes,
•4) Measurements of dust, smoke, and pollution that cross the Pacific from Asia
and Siberia,
•5) Measurements of streamers of moist air from the central tropical Pacific that
move onto the West Coast of the United States (atmospheric rivers).
GloPac POC’s:
Ken Jucks - NASA HQ, Atmospheric Composition
Hal Maring - NASA HQ, Radiation Science
Paul Newman – NASA GSFC, Principal Investigator
Mike Craig - NASA ARC ESPO, Project Manager
 2010 Mission Activities

• MACPEX (Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment)

• GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes)
• CARB (California Air Resources Board)
• NOVICE II (Newly Operating & Validated Instruments Comparison Exp)
• ICE Bridge Arctic (2) (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite)
• ICE Bridge Antarctic (2) (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite)
• OBB Arctic I (Ocean Biology & Biochemistry)
 GRIP Mission
Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes Experiment
Overview:
GRIP will focus on how tropical storms form and develop into major hurricanes, NASA is launching the Genesis and
Rapid Intensification Processes Experiment (GRIP). The mission is scheduled for August thru September 2010,
historically the busiest months for Atlantic hurricanes.

•NASA will utilize a DC-8, and a Global Hawk Unmanned Airborne System (UAS) aircraft, as well as, mobile radars and
radiosondes to examine the structure and evolution of convective systems. Over 150 personnel involved.

•GRIP will collect valuable data on the hurricane’s structure, dynamics, and motion that will assist in decreasing the size
of coastal evacuation areas while increasing the warning time to those areas
Project Timeline: 2010
Apr. - Jul. - Instrument modifications and
preparation
Jul. - Aug. - Instrument Integration in CA
& sites - Setup in FL
Mid Aug. - DC-8 transit to Florida
Aug. - Sept. - Science flights
End of Sept - DC-8 transit home to DFRC

GRIP Key points of contact:

Program Manager - Ramesh Kakar - NASA HQ
Project Scientist - Ed Zipser - University of Utah
Project Manager - Marilyn Vasques - NASA ARC
Deputy Proj. Mgr - Michael Craig - NASA ARC
 2011 Mission Activities

• TC-4 Guam (Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling)

• ARM OK (Atmospheric Radiation Measurement - Oklahoma)
• PACE (Pacific Atmospheric Composition, Cloud, & Climate Experiment)
• ICE Bridge Arctic (2) (Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite)
• ICE Bridge Antarctic (2) (Ice, Cloud & land Elevation Satellite)
• OBB Arctic II (Ocean Biology & Biochemistry)
• NOVICE III (Newly Operating & Validated Instruments Comparison
Experiment)
 Other Assignments

ASP Flight Request process

JASSIWG standardization
process
(Joint Airborne Science Sensor
Integration Working Group)
ESPO mission database
Annual Reports
Alpha Jet Development
Aquarius Satellite Transport
Ship missions
Suborbital Web portal
Data Archive Merge
Questions