This is a technical paper from 2008 describing the evolution and reengineering of NASA's Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) at Goddard Space Flight Center, which provides multi-mission ground navigation and spacecraft trajectory design services for scientific satellites and supports NASA's Space Network.
The paper details how the FDF has evolved from its 1960s origins supporting Apollo missions to its current state as a fully reimbursable facility where users pay 100% of costs. It outlines the implementation of a new GMSEC (Goddard Mission Services Evolution Center) architecture to modernize the facility's capabilities while reducing sustaining engineering costs. Key changes include transitioning from mainframe computers to distributed computing systems, incorporating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, and establishing a Flight Dynamics Users Council to provide oversight. The paper presents an estimated 40 staff-year implementation cost with projected annual savings of 6.4 staff years in sustaining engineering costs. The modernization effort was scheduled for completion by 2012, enabling the FDF to continue providing cost-effective navigation services for NASA missions while adapting to changing mission requirements and new technologies.
