Ensuring Data Continuity through NISAR’s End-to-End Information System

The joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, set to launch in 2024, features a powerful dual-band radar system that will observe Earth’s dynamic surface to help the global community better manage natural resources and hazards as well as model the effects and pace of climate change. To enable this science, NISAR features a robust End-to-End Information System (EEIS) to return the substantial volume of Earth-science data it will acquire. During system testing, however, the mission faced a critical data continuity issue characterized by the occurrence of inconsistent data loss within its EEIS. This paper delves into the data loss investigation to unravel the root causes, quantify the extent and types of loss, and propose potential solutions. At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a rapid-response and multi-disciplinary Tiger Team was assembled to resolve this high-risk anomaly over the course of three months. The team conducted a comprehensive analysis of the entire data flow process encompassing acquisition, return, and ground processing. Patterns in data loss, potential causes, and proposed solutions were examined through a detailed assessment of each subsystem and its interfaces along the data pipeline. Potential factors examined included hardware and software inefficiencies, technical implementation challenges, operational complexities, user errors, and vulnerabilities in data transmission. This rigorous and detailed investigation allowed for a targeted approach towards a resolution. This paper not only unravels the data loss mystery and solution, but also provides a roadmap for addressing and mitigating critical issues impacting an information system. This study underscores the key role of the EEIS in delivering a wealth of data and the significance of continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration in ensuring the success of a mission such as NISAR—ultimately paving the way for groundbreaking scientific insights and transformative advancements in Earth observation research.