Skip to main content

Critical Issues in NASA Information Systems Final Report to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1987) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

3. Centralization of Management Functions
Pages 17-24

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 17...
... In the discussion that follows, the Committee offers, for OSSA management consideration, those observations believed to be pertinent to this management issue.
Read the entire page →
From page 18...
... However, the bulk of program funding authority and responsibility for information systems rests with the program management offices for the particular disciplines. The ISO exercises little influence over the activities of these program offices and is neither authorized nor equipped to carry out the management obligations necessary to the success of the integrated earth sciences information systems program.
Read the entire page →
From page 19...
... Understanding depends on the development of information, which in turn depends on the gathering and processing of data that, in the context of integrated earth systems science, is increasingly interdisciplinary. Al though these joint activities are being conducted as shared responsibilities among the participating agencies, the watchwords are "integration" and "interoperability." Within each participating agency, as well as across agencies, the information systems of the component scientific disciplines must be able to cope not only with rapidly increasing requirements for storage of and access to data, but also with probe ems of compatibility or interoperability among diverse data bases and information processing systems.
Read the entire page →
From page 20...
... Action plans to achieve the goals and objectives, and to identify tasks, schedules' benchmarks, milestones, resources required, and comparative costs wild expose the goals and objectives to the realities of practical accomplishment. The Committee suggests that program plans be developed to address four areas: The design and development of future space program data and information systems to provide the level and degree of interoperability required by mu~ti-discipline investigations; Transformation and integration of OSSA's present data and information systems to support an acceptable level of interoperability; 20
Read the entire page →
From page 21...
... periodic reviews should be held to assess the status of the program or projects as redated to the plan. These reviews would also serve as a feedback mechanism to redefine requirements, assess responses to pre-defined user requirements, and identify the need for future special projects or systems research requirements.
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... The effort required can be reduced through the use of two techniques widely used in industry to shorten procurement and acquisition times -- rapid prototyping and integrated testbeds. Rapid prototyping involves simulation and modeling techniques for establishing operational concepts and performance characteristics of proposed systems and for validating them before the systems are designed and built.
Read the entire page →
From page 23...
... Consideration might also be given to an OSSA space sciences integrated teethed, to provide a comprehensive capability to demonstrate and evaluate archectectures and key technologies in accordance with an overall program plan. The integrated testbed might encompass additional rapid prototyping capabilities, simulations, and models with a hierarchy of fidelities to address the specific program at hand; hardware and software in the loop; and testing capabilities necessary to validate requirements, system elements, simulations, and models.
Read the entire page →
From page 24...
... There has been substantial pragmatic progress made in software development technology as well as in modular language and operating-system structures. The Committee suggests that OSSA collaborate with the commercial sector on the evaluation of available technologies and the integration of these technologies into the OSSA software creation and control mechanisms.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • integrated testbed
  • space science
  • integrated earth
  • software development
  • management function

  • management functions
  • work breakdown
  • integrated testbeds
  • breakdown structure
  • test bed

  • space station
  • space platform
  • committee suggests
  • acquisition cycles
  • science data

  • program offices
  • development warrant
  • jet propulsion
  • development decisions
  • key technologies

  • committee offers
  • flight programs
  • effort required
  • earth sciences
  • extreme importance

  • involves simulation
  • nasa organizational
  • additional rapid
  • typically allocates
  • activity involves


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.