Past Projects
NASA IV&V
NASA IV&V Facility Support
MSIS provided support to the NASA Independent Verification and Validation Facility under the Software Engineering Technical Assessments Contract. MSIS performed technical assessments of NASA projects, provided design support to the redesign of the IV&V Facility web site, and performed web site maintenance to keep the site up to date as progress was being made in ISO 9000 certification, and for information updates regarding the Software Working Group and the Software Working Group Information Exchange.
International Space Station (ISS)
MSIS participation on the ISS IV&V project includes verifying and validating all software processes and development for the External Control Zone (ECZ). The ECZ on the International Space Station is responsible for the control and monitoring of all mechanical and fluidic subsystems located on the truss elements inboard of the solar alpha rotary joints.
Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
MSIS personnel were members of the NASA IV&V team responsible for the evaluation of the system requirements and flight software code analysis of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER). The MER project included twin spacecraft planned for launch in the summer of 2003. The Rovers are second-generation robotic vehicles that will autonomously traverse the Martian landscape in search for clues to Mars’ geological past. The scientific instruments will identify mineral and elemental content of soil and rocks and return more data on the influence of water in the Martian past.
Geostationary Observational Environmental Satellites (GOES)
MSIS performed IV&V efforts on the GOES project. GOES projects N - Q are part of a multi-mission program contributing to weather and solar science research. NASA and NOAA are actively engaged in a cooperative program to expand the existing GOES system with the launch of the GOES N-Q satellites. IV&V tasks being performed in support of the GOES N-Q Program include life cycle IV&V for the 1) Attitude Control Electronics flight software; 2) Satellite Support Ground System; and 3) System Level (ground to space) elements of the GOES N-Q program.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
MSIS personnel were members of the NASA IV&V team responsible for the evaluation of the system requirements and analysis of the flight software code for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The MRO spacecraft will orbit Mars in a low altitude orbit to target specific surface areas with a high resolution camera and scan the surface with a multispectral infrared imager and ground-penetrating radar capable of imaging surface features to a depth of several hundred meters. The spacecraft includes the Electra instrument, a relay tranceiver that also represents the beginning of NASA’s Interplanetary Communication Network.
NASA Genesis
MSIS provided analysis support to reform IV&V on the Genesis project. The spacecraft Genesis is to advance our understanding of our most precious resource, the sun. Genesis is a sample and return mission - gathering solar wind particles and returning them for recovery in the New Mexico desert. MSIS supported IV&V of the flight software which is to safely carry the Genesis payload to Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) between the Earth and the Sun. Launch date: 8 August 2001.
2001 Mars Odyssey
MSIS performed IV&V on the 2001 Mars Odyssey project. This is a mission to study the thermal dynamics and chemical composition of the atmosphere and surface of Mars. MSIS personnel supported the flight software of the launch and Mars Orbital Insertion phase; the most critical periods of the mission. Historically, the destination Mars has been a difficult undertaking and MSIS analyzed and validated the software responsible for a successful journey to the red planet.
Software Tools
MSIS provided support to the software tools group by developing the web-based version of the Project Issue Tracking System (PITS) and the Risk Management System (RMS). MSIS then maintained both of these systems and developed upgrades for them. MSIS had the lead technical role in the PITS effort. MSIS also led the effort to develop a tool for tracking the completion level of IV&V on individual Computer System Configuration Items. In addition, MSIS personnel served as members of the Quality Assurance testing team tasked with testing other software tools prior to their deployment to the NASA IV&V facility.
Advanced Air Transportation Technology (AATT)
The AATT project provides automated tools for planning and controlling airport traffic arrival and is designed to eventually replace the current Arrival Sequencing Program metering processing. MSIS supports the AATT project by performing requirements extraction, code analysis on C code, and by reverse engineering the software to develop design documents.
Aegis Weapon System Software Process Improvement
MSIS provided support to the U.S. Navy as a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman Information Technology in the area of software process improvement. This included the development of software processes, procedures, standards, and policies; the development and presentation of software training courses specifically designed for the Aegis project at NSWCDD; and conversion of existing courses to support the new web-based training infrastructure.
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Fire Control System (FCS)
MSIS personnel analyzed the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Fire Control System (FCS) software to determine its vulnerability to software sabotage. This included performing research into software security methodologies, development of new methodologies for analyzing vulnerabilities, and development of prototype computer programs to detect illicit code. MSIS personnel also developed a methodology for performing a risk assessment and vulnerability analysis called "workflow," and had this published in IEEE proceedings.
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile System, Aegis Weapon System Fire Control System
MSIS personnel have participated in software engineering efforts for the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile System as well as the Aegis Weapon System Fire Control System tactical computer programs. MSIS personnel developed training materials on software and system security and presented papers at national conferences. MSIS personnel developed and presented a three-day seminar "Causes and Prevention of Software/Firmware Sabotage."
Checkout and Launch Control Systems
MSIS worked on the CLCS project from June 1997 through project cancellation, which occurred in September 2002. CLCS was being developed at Kennedy Space Center to regulate the current launch processing system (LPS), used to launch the Space Shuttle. MSIS efforts have included a special study to look at the software engineering processes being employed to develop CLCS, a study on the adequacy and effectiveness of the CLCS project’s efforts in the area of software measurement, and numerous requirements analyses to determine the adequacy of CLCS project testing at the system test level. MSIS has performed studies to determine CLCS project compliance to NASA safety standards. MSIS has performed studies based on the CLCS project’s software issues database to identify CLCS software code with high error densities. In the area of System Testing, MSIS has analyzed system test procedures and test results to determine the adequacy of the testing as it relates to verifying system level requirements.
NSWCDD Aegis Program Office Support
MSIS personnel provided support to the NSWCDD Aegis Program Office by performing background research to produce white papers and technical briefings. MSIS personnel also participated in the generation of the Life Support Engineering Management Plan and associated briefing.
Marine Howitzer: MCMFCS, Marine Corps Mortar Fire Control System.
MSIS personnel developed hardware and software to increase the accuracy and speed of laying in/first shot of 81mm mortar systems.
