SPACE

Human Space Flight

Skytek technology has been central in the quest to break the chains of orbit. As we enter a new era of crewed spaceflight, the proper solutions can dramatically reduce complexity and increase safety for astronauts

International Procedural Viewer - IPV

Revolutionising work onboard the International Space Station by making space procedures paperless

1. Authoring
2. Review
3. Deployment
4. Execution
5. Reporting
IPV
Integrated Software Suite
Authoring
  • ODF authoring application for system & payload experts
  • Simple to use ‘word based’ authoring environment
  • No programming skills required. Hides complexity of ODF XML standard
  • Guarantees compliance of procedures with ODF standard.
  • Web based application with central procedure management/revision control.
Review
  • ODF procedures require rigorous review process.
  • IPV review application supports complex workflow definition and management.
  • Easily distributed for expert review, comment tracking, signoff and analytics.
  • Streamlines review and final publishing of procedure.
Deployment
  • Tablet/Augmented Reality versions distribution.
  • Guarantee synchronization of latest procedure updates.
  • Coordinates distribution of update to different centers. i.e. NASA, ESA, JAVA, CSA
  • Distribute to onboard space station procedure servers.
  • Redlining of sensitive/proprietary procedures.
Execution
  • Space qualified procedure support application used on board the ISS.
  • Experts author procedures in ODF standard.
  • Access to over 60,000 ODF compliant IPV/XTP procedures.
  • Assists astronauts perform both payload and subsystem procedures.
  • All astronauts and support personnel are trained in ODF standard and software system.
Reporting
  • Capture of detailed logs of astronaut's actions performing a procedure.
  • Astronaut entered data downlinked from space to ground.
  • Reporting and storage on procedure states for each user.
  • Support analytics on events, WiFi signal strength and automated retries/offline syncs.

Gateway: A Deep Space Home, and So Much More

Gateway is a vital component of the NASA-led Artemis missions to return to the Moon and chart a path for the first human missions to Mars. The small space station will be a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the Moon and providing essential support for lunar surface missions, a destination for science, and serving as a staging point for further deep space exploration. NASA is working with commercial and international partners to establish Gateway.

  • Skytek to develop the new standard Flight Data File (FDF) software suite
  • Complete end-to-end suite of tools from Flight Data File (FDF)
  • Integration with telemetry and telecommands of Gateway subsystems
  • Augmented Reality procedure viewer
  • Interactive real-time ground support during procedure execution
  • AI / Machine learning: execution & authoring support

"Skytek has decades of experience and a proven track record of developing software for the International Space Station. We look forward to working with Skytek as we send astronauts back to the Moon and beyond."

Ruediger Seine
More about Gateway
European Space Agency
NASA
Skytek - Human Space Flight

Augmented Reality Hololens

  • AR Combination of real world and virtual object
  • Proprietary Technology. Two AR patents filed 2022
  • Several active projects with ESA using AR to support crew and AIT activities
  • Display procedures, remote video conference, and equipment data in AR
  • Understands real world and interactively assists the user
  • Voice commanding for ‘hand-busy’ operation

Benefits:

  • Reduced Training Time
  • Clarity of Instructions
  • Digital logs and record Keeping
  • Assistance from remote expert for quicker issue resolution
  • Fast test procedure generation
  • Enhanced records for archiving including CAD model updates based on real world info
  • Test engineer has info in field of view while located at the test area
  • Fully operational with voice while busy performing manual activities.

Two Patents

  • Easy to use authoring environment for AR steps and procedures
  • Link steps to 3D models, reference docs
  • Creation of 3D animations shown in AR display
  • Point to real world elements with onsite authoring or using 3D model in offsite which can then be recognized and highlighted during procedure execution
  • Report automatically generated from AR device on procedure execution.
  • Real time monitoring of procedure execution remotely via video feeds including AR elements (Head mounted display (HMD) and 3rd person point of view).
  • Captures video streams from HMD for expert review and archiving.
  • Autogeneration of updated CAD model of equipment on which AR procedure performed with new elements placed/removed.

AR Case Study: European Space Agency Usage

  • AR system used on board ISS and for ESA AIT activity
  • Used for JUICE and SMILE spacecraft for placement of test sensors
  • 100’s of sensors often need to be placed with panels then installed on top
  • Test engineer guided to position and orientation of sensors
  • Validates position, records and generates CAD test report using images from AR on sensor placement
  • Integration AR for remote video expert communication
  • Integration of EGS-CC and ESA STAMP (System for Thermal Analysis, Measurement and Power supply control) datasets.
  • Generation of automated reports with updated CAD STEP models.

Benefits:

  • Detailed and AR enhanced test execution reports from a test and validation campaign
  • Display of spacecraft/EGSE telemetry in AR display increasing safety
  • Execution of telecommands via AR increasing efficiency
  • Using space EGS-CC standard for integration of EGSE telemetry/telecommand
  • Offsite authoring using CAD model of spacecraft giving flexibility in creating AR procedures

Virtualisation

With the lifespan of the International Space Station (ISS) extended, older systems continue to provide vital services. Still, ageing IT equipment requires updating while maintaining full compatibility and data integrity. Skytek has developed fully virtualised environments that replicate legacy systems with modern hardware that upgrade the Columbus module’s data management system (DMS) ‘brains of the ISS’.

Skytek provides:

  • Fully compatible operational environments
  • Virtualized laptop environments supporting payload and experiment control
Skytek - Human Space Flight

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