NASA Logo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Scientific Ballooning

Balloon Program Office

Operations

Launch Process

Historically, mission tracking and planning was initiated when Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) received a Flight Application

  • Primary Mission Flight Applications arrived anywhere from < 12 months to > 36 months prior to anticipated launch.
  • Piggy Back Mission Flight Applications arrived typically within 1 to 6 months prior to requested launch.

Per 820-PG-8700.0.1 Gondola Structural Design Requirements, BPO must begin working with Principal Investigators (PI) prior to 27 months for primary missions (6 months for piggybacks) before the anticipated launch.

  • The mission pipeline must change to accommodate this requirement.
  • The PG also sets a review schedule that must be followed for initiating new science missions.
  • Balloon Program Office (BPO) is currently working to implement a new mission tracking and campaign planning process that begins at the time of award or before.

Mission Planning

At the start of the proposal process the PI will request a Letter of Feasibility from BPO and submit a Flight Application to CSBF.

  • All missions (primary, hand launch, and piggyback) will have a BPO Mission Manager (MM) assigned when a Flight Application is received, or a Letter of Feasibility is written.
  • The MM will begin working with the PI to walk them through the review process to ensure compliance with the requirements for flight.
  • There are waivers for missions that have flown before, but there are still requirements that must be met.

Capturing this data earlier will aid resource and campaign planning.

  • More efficient campaigns.
  • Help PI's target applicable campaign years.

Mission Intake

When it happens:

  • Immediately after award of grant.

What is covered:

  • The science requirements and schedule for flight.
  • Overview of the required BPO reviews.
  • Introduction to the assigned MM.

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA Mission Management Team
  • NASA Wallops Arc Second Pointer (WASP) or Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) Team (if applicable)
  • CSBF Flight Project Team

Why:

  • Introduce PI to the working team at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) and CSBF.
  • Review requirements and develop a plan to support.

Mission Initiation Consultation (MIC)

When it happens:

  • After award for primary missions.
  • For reimbursable / piggybacks when Flight Application is received.

What is covered:

  • Science Team
    • Science Requirements Review (SRR)
      • What: High-level Payload and Flight Overview
      • Why: Scientific Goal Overview
      • How: Operations Overview (Power, Telemetry, Hazards, Etc.)
  • BPO
    • Hazardous Operations and Procedures Review
  • CSBF
    • Operations and Integration Overview

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA Discipline and Project Scientists
  • NASA BPO Leadership and Mission Management Team
  • NASA WASP or SPB Team (if applicable)
  • NASA Safety Office Analysts
  • NASA Engineering Representative
  • CSBF Flight Project and Engineering Teams

Why:

  • Have an open forum to discuss the proposed mission with the appropriate subject matter experts.
  • Begin discussing the requirements set for the Program and how they impact the mission.

Operations Requirements Design Meeting (ORDM)

When it happens:

  • Launch (L) -27 months for primary missions
  • L-5 months for hand launch and piggyback missions

What is covered:

  • Science Team
    • Science Configuration Review (SCR) - Preliminary review of the gondola structural configuration.
    • Ground and Flight Operations Update - Has anything changed?
  • BPO
    • Hazardous Operations Requirements Review

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA BPO Mission Manager
  • NASA Engineering Representative
  • CSBF Flight Project and Engineering Teams

Why:

  • Discuss how the 820-PG-8700.0.1 is applicable to the gondola.
  • Discuss any operational changes from MIC.
  • Discuss what requirements will be required for working with known hazardous systems.

Operations Design Review (ODR)

When it happens:

  • L-15 months for primary missions
  • L-4.5 months for hand launch and piggyback missions

What is covered:

  • Science Team
    • Science Critical Configuration Review (SCCR) - Presentation of the appropriate load cases from 820-PG-8700.0.1 requirements.
    • Will any science team members need crane operator certification?
    • Any equipment that will need NASA certification? Lifting? Pressure?
    • Piggyback accommodation.
    • Ground and Flight Operations Update - Has anything changed?
  • BPO
    • Initiate Safety Data Forms

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA BPO Mission Manager
  • NASA Engineering Representative
  • CSBF Flight Project and Engineering Teams

Why:

  • Review compliance with 820-PG-8700.0.1 requirements and assign any open actions.
  • Begin compiling data for Ground / Flight Safety review, BPO Power Systems Review, Radiation (ionizing and non-ionizing).

Pre-Integration Review (PIR)

When it happens:

  • L-6 months for primary missions
  • L-4 months for hand launch and piggyback missions

What is covered:

  • BPO
    • 820-PG-8700.0.1 Structural Analysis Package (SAP) - Accepted
    • Hazardous Procedures - Submitted
    • Safety Data Forms - Submitted

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA BPO Mission Manager
  • NASA Safety Office Analysts
  • NASA Engineering Representative
  • CSBF Flight Project and Engineering Teams

Why:

  • Review for ensuring total documentation compliance prior to preparation for flight.
  • Discuss any changes that may impact the Safety Plans for the proposed campaigns.

Mission Readiness Review (MRR)

When it happens:

  • L-2 months for domestic campaigns
  • Prior to sea shipments for international campaigns

What is covered:

  • Science Status Review (SSR)
    • Deployment and Integration Schedule
    • Operational Requirements
    • Integration Requirements
    • Current status of payload
    • Risks and mitigations
  • NASA
    • Full Operational Readiness Review
      • BPO
      • Safety Office
      • CSBF

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA Program Executive, Discipline and Project Scientists
  • NASA BPO Leadership and Mission Management Team
  • NASA WASP or SPB Team (if applicable)
  • NASA Safety Office Chief Engineer, Campaign RSO, and Analysts
  • NASA Engineering Representative
  • CSBF Flight Project and Engineering Teams

Why:

  • Full readiness review prior to campaign start.

Integration and Test

When it happens:

  • L-2 days

What is covered:

  • CSBF
    • Science/Support Compatibility Test (SSCT)
      • CSBF Hang Test
      • Mechanical Certification
    • Flight Readiness Review
  • WFF Leadership
    • Approval to Proceed (ATP)

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA WFF Leadership
  • NASA BPO Mission Manager
  • CSBF Campaign Manager, Engineering and Technician Teams

Why:

  • Final check on mission compliance with stated requirements.
  • Integration complete and ready for launch.

Post Launch / Campaign

When it happens:

  • L+7/14 days

What is covered:

  • Lessons Learned Documentation Captured
  • Campaign Lessons Learned Review (CLLR)
  • Mission Management Close-out Documentation

Attendees:

  • PI and Science Team
  • NASA BPO Mission Manager
  • CSBF Campaign Manager, Engineering and Technician Teams

Why:

  • Formal closeout documentation following flight.


For more information about our operations, live view of launches, and to download a flight application, click the link below to visit the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility website:

https://www.csbf.nasa.gov/


NASA Code 820

Scientific Balloon Update

Report back for the latest update from NASA's Balloon Program Office.