Enabling astronaut self-scheduling using a robust advanced modelling and scheduling system: An assessment during a Mars analogue mission

Human long duration exploration missions (LDEMs) raise a number of technological challenges. This paper addresses the question crew autonomy: as distances increase, communication delays and constraints tend to prevent astronauts from being monitored supported by real time ground control. Eventually, future planetary will necessarily require form astronaut self-scheduling. We study usage computer decision-support tool analog astronauts, during Mars simulation mission conducted at Desert Research Station (MDRS, Society) in Utah. The proposed tool, called Romie, belongs new category Robust Advanced Modelling Scheduling (RAMS) systems. It allows members (i) visually model their scientific objectives constraints, (ii) compute near-optimal operational schedules while taking uncertainty into account, (iii) monitor execution past current activities, (iv) modify objectives/constraints w.r.t. unforeseen events opportunistic science. In this study, we empirically measure how who are novice planners, perform using such when self-scheduling under realistic assumptions simulated Martian habitat.