Space Station Productivity from Information Technology

Abstract

A space station will involve the formation and operation of an assembly of humans and machines with the intent of achieving sustained operation in space for a period of 10–20 years. A major goal of space station technology efforts is to enable both the initial and evolutionary productivity of the space station. Because a space station is expected to be an information-rich system, technologies that improve the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of information will have a high leverage on station productivity. Specific information technology functions and requirements that promote human–machine productivity for a space station are examined.