Sequence Translator, Editor, and Expander Resource (STEER) is a computer program that facilitates construction of sequences and blocks of sequences (hereafter denoted generally as sequence products) for commanding a spacecraft. STEER also provides mechanisms for translating among various sequence product types and quickly expanding activities of a given sequence in chronological order for review and analysis of the sequence. To date, construction of sequence products has generally been done by use of such clumsy mechanisms as text-editor programs, translating among sequence product types has been challenging, and expanding sequences to time-ordered lists has involved arduous processes of converting sequence products to "real" sequences and running them through Class-A software (defined, loosely, as flight and ground software critical to a spacecraft mission). Also, heretofore, generating sequence products in standard formats has been troublesome because precise formatting and syntax are required. STEER alleviates these issues by providing a graphical user interface containing intuitive fields in which the user can enter the necessary information. The STEER expansion function provides a "quick and dirty" means of seeing how a sequence and sequence block would expand into a chronological list, without need to use of Class-A software.
This program was written by Roy Gladden, Bruce Waggoner, Mark Kordon, Mahnaz Hashemi, David Hanks, and Jose Salcedo of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free online at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (626) 395-2322. Refer to NPO-41175.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Program for Editing Spacecraft Command Sequences
(reference NPO-41175) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for NASA's Program for Editing Spacecraft Command Sequences, identified as NPO-41175. It outlines a software tool developed to streamline the process of constructing and managing command sequences for spacecraft. This tool addresses several challenges faced in the manual creation of sequences, which traditionally relied on text editors or cumbersome methods.
Key features of the software include its extreme flexibility, allowing users to incorporate various command sources into sequences without being restricted to a single type. It supports the simultaneous management of multiple sequences and sequence blocks for different spacecraft within the same session, which is particularly beneficial for coordinating activities between multiple spacecraft or for a single spacecraft undertaking complex operations.
One of the standout functionalities of the software is its expansion feature, which provides a quick and straightforward way to visualize how a sequence and its components would appear in a time-ordered list. This feature enables users to conduct rapid reviews and analyses without the need for more complex Class-A software, thus facilitating a "quick and dirty" method for early sanity checks on sequence products.
The document also highlights improvements over existing similar software applications, such as seqadapt and ROSE, which typically require extensive setup time, can only manage one sequence at a time, and lack an expansion feature. The new tool simplifies the construction of sequences and sequence blocks, making it more user-friendly and efficient.
Additionally, the software addresses the challenges of translating between various sequence product types and generating sequences in standard formats, which often require precise formatting and syntax. The graphical user interface of the tool provides intuitive fields for users to populate, alleviating the difficulties associated with these tasks.
Overall, the Technical Support Package emphasizes the software's role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of spacecraft command sequence management, ultimately contributing to the success of NASA's aerospace missions. Further assistance and information can be accessed through the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program Office.
