Signed_Approved_Charter_31Aug08_IRT_Charter.doc

Research Planning Working Group

RPWG-01

August 2008 Charter for the Increment Research Team

1.0 PURPOSE

With this charter the Research Planning Working Group (RPWG) establishes the Increment Research Team (IRT). The IRT is a multilateral body tasked to coordinate integrated science research, including assuring the implementation of research prioritization requirements, re-planning as necessary, once the United States On-orbit Segment (USOS) research requirements have been baselined for an increment.

2.0 POLICY

The IRT will be operated in accordance with the policies outlined in the RPWG Charter. Details of the responsibilities, products, and processes associated to the tasks of the IRT will be documented in the RPWG Operations Plan, SSP 50795.

2.1 Authority

Authority is delegated from the RPWG to the IRT as specified in ISS-PPD-541, Section 3.2 of the RPWG Charter. Changes to this authority will be reflected in updates to this charter and be accomplished through approval by the RPWG.

2.2 Meeting Frequency

The IRT will meet on a weekly basis via teleconference. During this meeting, each International Partner (IP) member will provide a detailed science status of that agency’s on-orbit science and inform the other partners of any potential impacts to and/or changes to that partner’s science complement. If deemed necessary by an IRT Core Member, a special IRT meeting can be called.

The Lead Increment Scientist (LIS) will lead the IRT meetings. A minimum of three of the IPs who are members of the IRT are required in order for an IRT session to be held. If this minimum number of IP agency members can not be achieved and a decision from this forum is needed promptly, the LIS will provide the needed input to the ISS Program entities requesting the decision based on the best information provided by the attending IP members.

2.3 Responsibilities

The IRT has the responsibility for coordinating science research activities during the near real-time, real-time and post increment assessment period. The IRT also has the responsibility to insure that all opportunities to increase science return are used optimally and done in an equable fashion. Due to the nature of the multi-increment planning and execution activity on-going at a given time, the IRT could be carrying out these responsibilities for various increments concurrently.

2.3.1 Core Members

Core members are responsible for advising the IRT members on science considerations and constraints affecting the particular core member’s science complement within the USOS. Additionally, it is each member’s responsibility to inform his or her respective agency about the IRT science decision discussion outcome in a timely manner.

Each core member has the responsibility to assure the availability of representation to the IRT from his or her respective agency on a 24 hour/7 days a week basis during an increment execution phase. It is the responsibility of each core member to determine the most suitable scheme to fulfill this responsibility.

The LIS is responsible for the overall science coordination and integration across the USOS with inputs provided by all core members within agreed upon deadlines.

The Increment Scientists (IS) are responsible for all science product developments, science re-planning inputs, communication of agency science priorities and constraints and any analyses/data needed to show potential science impacts to their respective agency science complement during an increment. It is also the responsibility of the Increment Scientists to inform the IRT of any ISS Program changes (flights being delayed, lack of up-mass or return opportunity, etc.) that impact their agency’s science complement.

2.3.2 Associate Members

The LIS Representative (LIS Rep) and IS Representatives (IS Reps) are the primary contributors to the IRT that provide real-time awareness of the current on-orbit payload operations and status. They are tasked with keeping their respective IP IS informed about daily real-time activities and science operation issues and concerns. These reps provide real-time console support.

2.3.3 Invited Participants

The IRT will invite on an as-needed basis, subject matter experts to help assess specific issues and concerns.

2.3.4 Ad-Hoc Members

Ad-Hoc members may attend on an as desired basis to provide guidance and information to the IRT.

2.4 Products

2.4.1 A weekly science status report will be presented to the RPWG by the LIS. This report shall include a status of the on-orbit real-time science activity, any re-planning activity, and issues/threats that might impact the overall science complement during the on-going increment and future increments tactical phases.

2.4.2 A final report on the on-going increment science accomplishments will be presented to the RPWG.

2.4.3 The following IRT process documents maintenance and document change submittal as needed:

- IRT-001

ISS Weekly Science Summary

- IRT-002

Real-Time Science Prioritization and Decision Making Process

- IRT-003

Integrated Science Priority List Development

- IRT-004

On-Orbit ISS Off-Nominal Science Assessment Resolutions

- IRT-005

Increment Research Team Science Replanning After Research Directive Baselining

- IRT-006

Load Shed Table Science Rack Prioritization

- IRT-007

Reserve Science Planning and Prioritization

- IRT-008

IRT Task List Science Planning

- IRT-009

ISS Voluntary Science Planning

- IRT-010

Science Assessment of Baseline Data Collection Implementation

- IRT-011A

Payload Crew Debrief

- IRT-011B

Payload Lessons Learned

- IRT-012

30-Day and One-Year Reporting

- IRT-013

Increment Utilization Accomplishment Report

- IRT-014

Crew Science Complement Briefing

- IRT-015

On-Orbit Science Crew Conferences

- IRT-016

Multilateral Pre and Post Increment Science Symposia

- IRT-017

Science Increment Crew Time Tracking

- IRT-018

Daily Science Tag

- IRT-019

Increment Specific Contact List

- IRT-020

Call for an Ad-Hoc IRT – Off Duty Calls

- IRT-021

Console Handover Guidelines

2.4.4 Data products as specified in the IRT process documents

2.5 Decision-making Process and Appeal

The IRT shall make decisions on a consensus basis. If consensus cannot be reached after reasonable discussion, the LIS as Chair of the IRT will make the final decision. If a Core Member disagrees with the final decision, that member can appeal the decision to the multilateral RPWG. If the needed decision is time critical, the decision may be implemented at risk while the appeal is proceeding. Time critical decisions can be appealed to the ISS Mission Management Team (IMMT) through the Increment Payload Manager (IPM) who is the integrated USOS research representative to the IMMT.

3.0 Membership

Core Members

Chair:

Lead Increment Scientist Increment Scientists:

Representative, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Representative, Canadian Space Agency Representative, European Space Agency

Representative, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Associate Members

LIS Representative (s) IS Representatives Invited Participants Invited Participants will attend the IRT meetings based upon the agenda and upon mutual request by a Core Member and the Invited Participant.

Ad-Hoc Members Chair, Research Planning Working Group CSA RPWG Representative

ESA RPWG Representative

JAXA RPWG Representative

CONCURRENCES

RPWG-01 – FINAL 8/20/08