Real-time issues in the design of the Data Management System for the Space Station Freedom

Space Station Freedom (SSF) faces several challenges which are unique in the NASA history of manned and unmanned spacecraft systems. The challenges include a 30 year life, and evolution in capability of the station as a science platform and potentially a transportation node for manned missions to the solar system. The Data Management System (DMS) is a key element of SSF. DMS is the computational infrastructure of SSF, responsible for integrating information onboard into a cooperative whole. Its primary role is to provide integrated data processing and communication services for both the core function and the payloads. The authors focus on some real-time issues in the design of DMS.<>