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3.0.     NASA Program/Project Life Cycle
3.1      Program Formulation
3.2      Program Implementation
3.3      Project Pre-Phase A: Concept Studies
3.4      Project Phase A: Concept and Technology Development
3.5      Project Phase B: Preliminary Design and Technology Completion
3.6      Project Phase C: Final Design and Fabrication
3.7      Project Phase D: System Assembly, Integration and Test, Launch
3.8      Project Phase E: Operations and Sustainment    
3.9      Project Phase F: Closeout
3.10    Funding: The Budget Cycle
3.11    Tailoring and Customization of NPR 7123.1 Requirements

The purpose of Phase E is to conduct the prime mission to meet the initially identified need and to maintain support for that need. The products of the phase are the results of the mission and performance of the system.

Systems engineering personnel continue to play a role during this phase since integration often overlaps with operations for complex systems. Some programs have repeated operations/flights which require configuration changes and new mission objectives with each occurrence. And systems with complex sustainment needs or human involvement will likely require evaluation and adjustments that may be beyond the scope of operators to perform. Specialty engineering disciplines, like maintainability and logistics servicing, will be performing tasks during this phase as well. Such tasks may require reiteration and/or recursion of the common systems engineering processes.

Systems engineering personnel also may be involved in in-flight anomaly resolution. Additionally, software development may continue well into Phase E. For example, software for a planetary probe may be developed and uplinked while in-flight. Another example would be new hardware developed for space station increments.

This phase encompasses the evolution of the system only insofar as that evolution does not involve major changes to the system architecture. Changes of that scope constitute new “needs,” and the project life cycle starts over. For large flight projects, there may be an extended period of cruise, orbit insertion, on-orbit assembly, and initial shakedown operations. Near the end of the prime mission, the project may apply for a mission extension to continue mission activities or attempt to perform additional mission objectives.

For additional information on systems engineering in Phase E, see Appendix T.

Space Flight Phase E: Operations and Sustainment

Purpose

  • To conduct the mission and meet the initially identified need and maintain support for that need. Implement the mission operations plan.
  • Typical Activities and Their Products
  • Conduct launch vehicle performance assessment. Commission and activate science instruments
  • Conduct the intended prime mission(s)
  • Provide sustaining support as planned
    • Implement spares plan
    • Collect engineering and science data
    • Train replacement operators and maintainers
    • Train the flight team for future mission phases (e.g., planetary landed operations)
    • Maintain and approve operations and maintenance logs
    • Maintain and upgrade the system
    • Identify and update risks
    • Address problem/failure reports
    • Process and analyze mission data
    • Apply for mission extensions, if warranted
  • Prepare for deactivation, disassembly, decommissioning as planned (subject to mission extension)
  • Capture lessons learned
  • Complete post-flight evaluation reports
  • Develop final mission report
  • Perform required Phase E technical activities from NPR 7120.5
  • Satisfy Phase E reviews’ entrance/success criteria from NPR 7123.1

Reviews

  • Post-Launch Assessment Review (PLAR)
  • Critical Event Readiness Review (CERR)
  • Post-Flight Assessment Review (PFAR) (human space flight only)
  • DR
  • System upgrade review
  • Safety review