Assessment of Alternative Interfaces for Manual Commanding of Spacecraft Systems

Abstract

Astronauts will be responsible for executing a much larger body of procedures as human exploration moves further from Earth and Mission Control. Efficient, reliable methods for executing these procedures, including manual, automated, and mixed execution will be important. We evaluated a new procedure system that integrates step-by-step instruction with the means for execution. While the system allows automation, the critical first step, investigated here, is effectiveness supporting manual execution. We compared manual execution using the new system to a system analogous to the manual-only system currently in use on the International Space Station; we assessed whether manual performance with the new system would be as good or better than with the legacy system. This lays the foundation for integrating automated execution into the flow of procedures designed for humans. In our formative study, we found speed and accuracy of procedure execution was better using the new, integrated interface over the legacy design.