Description of Driving Event:
NASA Initial Planning to Migrate Some Shuttle GPC Functions to New Mission Computer(s)
Lesson(s) Learned:
Part of the AUAT's initial approach is to install three mission computers to augment the existing General Purpose Computers (GPCs). The specific functions to be off-loaded from the GPCs to the mission computers have yet to be determined. Eventually, the AUAT plans to consider moving some "Crit 1" functions to the mission computers.
Recommendation(s):
Do not move any "Crit 1" functions to the mission computers unless memory requirements in the GPC demand it and then only after an appropriate risk analysis is performed.
Evidence of Recurrence Control Effectiveness:
The avionics upgrade architecture has changed substantially since the ASAP visit early in 1999 when it contained both safety enhancements and supportability solutions. The currently funded content for the avionics upgrade addresses only the safety enhancements. These enhancements address upgrades to the crew cockpit to reduce crew workload and enhance safety margins relative to critical crew procedures. The focus has been on improving crew situational awareness through access to all vehicle data, more robust command capability from the keyboards and more computational power to perform higher-level functions (such as enhanced caution and warning and abort region determination) than previously supported. The result is an architecture that replaces the existing multi-functional electronic display system integrated display processor with a new computer, called the command and data processor, rather than incorporating a mission computer. The functions, such as crew commands and enhanced caution and warning that are now supported by the avionics architecture, are considered Crit 1and will be certified to Crit 1 levels. The new processor has many of the attributes of the mission computer concept presented to the ASAP, including support for an aerospace ground equipment interface for flight computer data access.
Documents Related to Lesson:
N/A
Mission Directorate(s):
- Exploration Systems
- Space Operations
- Aeronautics Research
Additional Key Phrase(s):
- Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel
- Computers
- Policy & Planning
- Research & Development
- Risk Management/Assessment
- Software
- Spacecraft
- Test & Verification
Additional Info:
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