Introduction: The objective is to de-risk missions through improved crew productivity and performance using an AI-powered search engine interface built from real-time data, historical data, and technical manuals. This has applications to automate missions for HERA and Artemis. TOM operationalizes access to time-sensitive information by organizing important spacecraft sensor data into a legible, accessible interface for the crew off-planet and on the ground. Co-registering data sets creates an evidence-based snapshot of the mission status. We call this an objective situational awareness that can be logged to create a timeline of mission health for future reference and data mining.
The automation of human operations is the next frontier in space exploration, but the best scenario happens through human-AI collaboration rather than removing humans from the loop. TOM curates a dataset available to the crew via a search bar interface to support during troubleshooting. The dataset coregisters current spacecraft data and historical information. Information comes from references, like technical manuals of equipment, and sensor data from the mission, including flight telemetry, solar weather, passive structural health monitoring, caches of life support materials, and power. The search engine provides the crew the information needed to resolve engineering issues without directly involving the ground crew.
Significance: The project addresses Topic 4: Mitigating behavioral health and performance risks for lunar missions by providing guidance to the crew during troubleshooting without waiting on the ground crew. We demonstrate the dataset improves crew health and performance by using search optimization to provide actionable and useful information to the crew from spacecraft data and reference material. The new interface and database are tested using decentralized ground models and analog environments. These advance scientific knowledge and technology by measuring the environment, correlating those measurements to productivity, and then prescriptively guiding behavior towards healthy and successful outcomes.
When astronauts encounter issues like crystal growth anomalies in microgravity experiments, TOM instantly searches mission data archives to find relevant precedents. The interface identifies previous instances of similar issues across different missions, correlating them with specific environmental factors. This contextual intelligence allows astronauts to make informed decisions without waiting for Earth-based support, which becomes increasingly critical as mission distances increase.
Mitigation of Risks to Crew Health: The risk of latency between ground and flight crew is delayed response and sub-optimal guidance based on incomplete information. This project re-balances data-driven decision making by using a ground-truthed dataset based on sensor information, technical manuals, and historical correlations of mitigations vs. outcomes.
Our unique approach to anomaly detection follows a process that respects astronaut autonomy: when systems detect potential issues, TOM generates tailored recommendations while preserving crew agency. These recommendations are evaluated individually, then reviewed for team consensus when appropriate, all while maintaining appropriate mission control oversight. This structure ensures critical health factors receive proper attention while preserving astronaut independence.
Approach: The innovation here is the integration of several validated techniques to make information actionable. The breakthrough comes from reducing latency between the crew and information, as well as making information useful based on decades of lessons from spaceflight. Private space companies can achieve substantial operational efficiencies through TOM's implementation. Astronauts currently waste 1-2 hours daily navigating through documentation when troubleshooting - creating significant cost implications for commercial space operations.
The framework is hardware agnostic and allows for future growth and innovation based on the evolving needs of the space program. As missions venture further from Earth, TOM's capabilities will become increasingly valuable for maintaining spacecraft operational integrity, supporting crew health, and ensuring mission success during inevitable communication blackouts with Earth.
