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POCC Positions and Schedule

The HUT team in the POCC is divided into two 12-hour shifts of 11 people each who cover all essential areas of HUT ground operations. These positions are listed in Table 3-3.


 
Table 3-3: HUT POCC Positions
Position Responsibility
   
PI/Rep Interface with mission management
  Make strategic scientific and technical decisions
A/G Lead Manage instrument operations
  Sole representative for crew communications
Engineer #1 Assist in instrument operations; evaluate instrument performance
Engineer #2 Assist in instrument operations; evaluate instrument performance
DEP S/W Assist in instrument operations and data uplinks
  Evaluate DEP performance
Data Evaluator Evaluate science and calibration data
  Track science objectives
Data Flow Manager Monitor reception of HUT HRM data and archive to tape
  Monitor GSE performance
Replanner #1 Monitor mission timeline changes
  Re-plan science observations to achieve team science goals
Replanner #2 Monitor mission timeline changes
  Re-plan science observations to achieve team science goals
PATSI Problem Analyst and Troubleshooting Investigator
  Assist in analyzing instrument performance,
  science and calibration data, planning software,
  GSE performance, and preparing data uplinks
Team Administrator Manage paper flow; team interface to the real world
   

The schedule in the POCC revolves around the crew schedule aboard the shuttle. Each shift begins with a meeting of the Science Operations Planning Group (SOPG), and the meeting time coincides with crew handovers. The SOPG is chaired by the Mission Scientist or Deputy Mission Scientist and is attended by each instrument PI or their representative, and other supporting personnel as needed. The SOPG monitors the scientific goals of the mission and instrument performance, and it is the decision-making body for all changes to the mission timeline or operations which affect science operations. The SOPG generally makes decisions about operational changes that will affect the shift that begins with the next SOPG, i.e., 12-24 hours later. (Final authority for implementing many changes rests with mission control at JSC if decisions affect the orbiter or crew safety.)

The times of other key operations in the POCC are referenced to the beginning of the SOPG meeting. Each HUT position is manned for 12 hours with an additional hour of overlap time for one shift to hand over operations to the next shift. During a handover all personnel jointly fill out a shift report with their counterparts which summarizes the activities of the previous twelve hours. This serves to brief the oncoming shift and prepare them to smoothly assume the tasks of the previous shift. Handovers are staggered in time to keep the POCC area from getting too crowded. The PI/Rep, the A/G Lead, and Engineer #1 arrive 30 m prior to the SOPG; their handovers are not completed until after the SOPG is finished. The DEP S/W, Data Flow, and Data Evaluator positions arrive just after the beginning of the SOPG and are encouraged to depart before it ends. The remaining positions arrive 30 m after the start of the SOPG, and their handovers are completed after it is over.


next up previous contents
Next: CALIBRATION Up: POCC Operations Previous: POCC Capabilities

6/23/1999