Abstract
This report is the outcome of an investigation, funded by NASA’s Intelligent Systems program, into methods and means for using compiled automation to speed the development and deployment of increasingly autonomous spacecraft. Many NASA missions currently being planned or under study will require the deployment of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, which may be a deep-space probe (e.g., Galileo), a planetary rover (e.g., MER), or a lander (e.g., SAGE). Other missions may be possible without a greatly increased level of autonomy, but would still benefit from reduced operating costs, increased safety, and possibly greater science return, should that increased level of autonomy be practicable.