Tellus Applied Sciences, Inc.

Tellus senior staff and consultants offer a broad range of space mission planning, analysis and assessment services, with special emphasis on robotic science and exploration projects. We are experienced in proposal preparation, proposal and concept study assessment, strategic planning support, and trade study definition, execution and reporting. Our analysts are hands-on working specialists who are experienced at summarizing results and briefing executive audiences on the important take-away message of highly detailed engineering work.

Our customers look to Tellus for sound solutions and experienced judgment in:

• Space Mission Design – mission planning and sequence of events and operations, orbital mechanics, trajectory design and optimization
• Flight Systems Engineering – spacecraft requirements flow-down and verification, technical approach, concept of operations, risk awareness, integration and test planning
• Project Management Plans and Evaluation – management organization for effective control and successful implementation, roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes, risk management, project schedule development, critical path analysis and assessment
• Project Cost Estimation & Analysis – defining a sound and comprehensive basis of estimate, selecting and applying the estimating tools (cognizant engineering judgment, parametric methods, analogy, constructive models), and deriving reasonable reserves

Tellus has provided uniquely qualified subject matter experts and specialists to assist the NASA Science Office for Mission Assessments (SOMA) in the technical, management and cost evaluation for new exploration missions in the following programs: Small Explorers, Discovery, New Frontiers, Geospace missions of opportunity, astrophysics concept studies.

Our staff and consultants have also participated in several studies supporting assessment and improvement of the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s overall acquisition management program for new science and exploration missions.

Current projects:

• NASA-Langley robotic spacecraft evaluation
• NASA-Goddard software engineering support