Mission Analysis and Planning

This focus area involves the knowledge and ability to analyze requirements of current and near-term missions. Researchers in this field manage integration of technical elements such as vehicle design, flight trajectories, and operational and ground-based infrastructure requirements in order to meet mission and programmatic objectives. As mission analysis moves into advanced planning a knowledge, capabilities, and practices associated with the conception, development, and planning of advanced mission architectures and systems synthesizing science, commercial, military and exploration requirements and considering feasibility, performance, cost, risk, schedule, reliability/safety and environmental effects.