ABSTRACT
Science instrument payloads on space missions may be selected as part of the mission selection process or in a separate solicitation that occurs after the spacecraft or mission is selected. The science instrument payload teams are typically comprised of people from many institutions and may involve several layers of subcontracts. The payload management team is the interface voice between the science instrument development teams, the spacecraft development team, and the mission operations team. The payload management team is defined along with its roles, responsibilities, and lines of authority. Science instrument operation planning occurs as part of instrument development. Depending upon the mission, science instrument operations may occur independently or be coordinated across the instrument payload. Each instrument team in the payload develops a science operations center (SOC). The roles and responsibilities for a principal investigator (PI) and science team can vary from mission to mission.
