Using Operations Checklist Software to Prevent Mission Failures
Mission delays and setbacks no longer have to be the norm in the space industry. For most of its history, the complexities of space launch meant that somewhere within the process, seemingly insignificant human errors are likely to have significantly devastating impacts like postponing a launch date, or, even more disheartening, cause a project to be abandoned altogether. Small human errors still have significant costs for delayed launches.
But this doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Why settle for the status quo of delayed launches? Refining procedures is one of many ways to change launch expectations and begin to deliver with more consistency and efficiency.
Complex procedures that are fully integrated within one software platform have built-in checks and balances to make sure all sign-offs and data are entered and recorded with accuracy and efficiency. This keeps teams with lots of moving parts on the same page in real-time, whether they’re operating on or offline. No more trying to sync up multiple documents from multiple sources. It’s no longer sustainable.
NONE OF US ARE IMMUNE FROM HUMAN ERROR
Over the past couple of months, NASA has delayed the launch of Artemis 1 not once, but three times. And, it's a very similar story for their Boeing Starliner. We’ve all experienced this kind of scenario where a launch is postponed due to a simple human error like when someone sends a command to the wrong valve. We get it, we’re human. Evaluating all the moving pieces and data under stress makes it easy to miss critical signals.
This is exactly why we created our software–so we could get out of our own human way, and use operations best practices to help procedure and operations teams change the status quo. Teams can hit their initial launch date every time with confidence. We wanted to help people refine their procedures and operations with ease and precision. Epsilon3 software allows for integrating with various commanding and telemetry systems so that sending commands is error-free, and a command can’t be sent to the wrong valve or at the wrong time.
We totally understand how launch delays happen because we’ve all been there. Which is why it’s such a relief to know that using the right integrative software can back you up so you and your team can focus on doing what you do best while still getting sleep at night.
LAUNCH DELAYS DON’T HAVE TO BE BUSINESS AS USUAL
From writing procedures to testing to launch, there are hundreds and thousands of complex puzzle pieces that all have to be in place. Relying on old models using multiple platforms to document and track is always a risk. What if you and your team could be confident in a launch date based on reliable software has tracked your vehicle's build, integration and test throughout every step of the way rather than expecting more delays and setbacks because it’s “part of the space business?”
Adopting a software package specifically designed to support complex build and operations gives you and your team a huge competitive advantage in a rapidly growing space industry. Timely and successful launches are the new norm in the space industry for those who make changes to ensure reliability of launch date, speed and are embracing a fully digital workflow will win.
HOW CHECKLIST PROCEDURE SOFTWARE PREVENTS MISSION FAILURES
Epsilon3 is highly collaborative which means anyone on your team can implement features for multiple people to interact with which allows for roadblock-free editing, tracking procedures, checklists, and the associated data collected within them.
Procedures become real-time living documents that provide significantly more functionality needed in operations than Confluence, word documents or Google Docs. Everyone has access to see changes and progress and that needs attention immediately, helping your team catch mistakes early on, long before you reach that critical launch phase.
To read and understand more about how Epsilon3’s checklist procedure software can help your team prevent mission failures, read Our Most Valuable Checklist Software That Customers Use Most.
MAXIMIZE YOUR TEAM’S POTENTIAL
You and your team have crazy good talent and potential that should be supported by tools that can be relied on to help everyone involved put their energy where it matters most. Rather than chasing down disparate documents and trying to align them at critical moments, you can sleep better knowing exactly what and where everything is. This kind of support is designed to significantly decrease risk and help teams reach their goals without worry or question.
