Lessons Learned Deploying Space Planning Systems

This article describes a number of lessons learned in deploying automated planning and scheduling systems for space applications at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Specifically, we describe issues relating to how plan representation can affect plan quality; how to acquire, validate and maintain planning knowledge bases; and how planning and execution can be integrated. These issues are described in the context of several fielded systems in the areas of science data analysis, ground station automation, and spacecraft autonomy.