The concept-to-completion life cycle of a sounding rocket launch is process-driven and extremely complex. From the Mission Initiation Conference to mission close out, the Mission Manager interfaces with contracting, costing, scheduling, engineering, range safety, QA/ISO, the Principal Investigator (PI,) the Mission Team, and NASA/WFF management. He is involved in every discussion, every decision, every major change - and that involvement is key to mission success.

The Process

Whether the Principal Investigator is a NASA scientist in search of new information on polar-cap absorption events or a student completing his Master's work on plasma physics, every launch starts with a concept and the question: How can these requirements be supported? Answering that question requires many meetings and a great deal of associated documentation. The NSROC Mission Life Cycle outlines these meetings; the following text further defines them:

	Mission Initiation Conference: The “MIC” is the initial review of a proposed project or mission. This meeting establishes science objectives and preliminary mission requirements for the Mission Team. Between this meeting and the Requirements Definition Meeting, the PI Data Package (scientific objectives, success criteria, instrumentation, engineering data, performance requirements, operational requirements and safety issues) will be analyzed and evaluated; and the preliminary schedule set.
	Requirements Definition Meeting: The “RDM” establishes how the project requirements baseline will be met and reviews the preliminary payload stack to determine if proposed systems will provide the required functionality. It validates the selected vehicle configuration, updates/refines the project schedule, and begins the process of launch range coordination to ensure that all range support requirements will be met.
	Design Review: The “DR” verifies that the detailed design meets all requirements established at the RDM. All aspects of the payload design are discussed and disseminated across all disciplines. Design parameters are summarized, design problems are addressed and resolved, and, should they be required, new designs are verified as complete and ready for fabrication.
	Pre-Integration Review: The “PIR” reviews the proposed integration and testing process for integration of the payload with the flight vehicle. The payload, vehicle elements, test plans/procedures, test equipment, facilities and personnel are thoroughly evaluated to ensure successful integration.
	Mission Readiness Review: The “MRR” is a final check which answers the question: Are we ready to launch? Has every system - telemetry, electrical, mechanical, environmental, range safety - been checked and double checked to ensure a successful mission? Based on this input, the rocket will proceed to the launch pad where, after a series of final checks, a final Go/No Go decision will be made.
	Mission Close-Out Report: The Mission Close-Out Report documents the flight's success and officially closes out the process.
	Lessons Learned: Every mission is broken down into definable tasks; any problem encountered during the life cycle process is fully documented as is the application or scientific approach that resolved it. This provides a "heads up" for future missions so that potential problems can be identified and mitigated before they happen.