"Faster, Better, Cheaper" Mission Operations - Employing a Reusable Object Methodology

This paper presents a systematic approach for changing the process of engineering and operating one-of-a-kind solutions and start-from-scratch systems for similar mission operations functions. The approach employs an object methodology to specify end-to-end mission operations with reusable objects and actions. Through this technique, which resembles design of custom electronic circuit assemblies from standard components, objects that appear in different parts of mission operations, and which were viewed previously as unique, are now recognized to be similar, allowing for reduction of unique implementations. Unlike conventional data flow methods which concentrate on function uniqueness and the detailed data flows necessary to interconnect the functions, this modeling methodology is independent of system design or implementation. As such, it provides a pragmatic tool for exploration of mission operations concepts for all phases of the mission life cycle. This approach provides a methodology to implement "faster, better, cheaper" mission services from planning through operations. The key features of the approach are object orientation, simplicity, and reusability to achieve true life cycle cost and schedule reductions, including faster and cheaper development.