NASA Kennedy Space Center Expands Use of Aurora

Longstanding Collaboration with NASA

Since the 1990s, Stottler Henke has worked side by side with NASA to tackle some of the most challenging project management and scheduling problems in the world. The relationship has been shaped by NASA’s relentless pursuit of innovation and precision, and Stottler Henke’s commitment to delivering intelligent scheduling solutions. At the heart of this collaboration is Aurora, the company’s AI-based planning and scheduling system.

Aurora was designed to address scheduling problems that are too complex for traditional tools to solve efficiently. NASA’s operations—particularly at Kennedy Space Center (KSC)—involve overlapping missions, shared resources, and numerous safety and regulatory constraints. By applying sophisticated algorithms and intelligent heuristics, Aurora helps NASA create schedules that not only meet these demands but also optimize the use of limited and costly resources.

Meeting NASA’s Unique Scheduling Challenges

Operations at Kennedy Space Center are unlike those found in any other industry. Multiple space missions may be in preparation at the same time, each competing for access to shared equipment, specialized facilities, and highly trained personnel. Add to this the stringent safety requirements, ground rules, and mission-specific constraints tied to preparing space vehicles and payloads, and the complexity quickly surpasses the capabilities of conventional scheduling methods.

Facilities such as launch pads, clean rooms, fueling stations, and vehicle assembly buildings are extremely expensive and limited in number. A delay or bottleneck in one area can cascade across the entire mission timeline, increasing costs and putting mission success at risk. The stakes are high, and NASA needs tools that go beyond simple scheduling to provide true optimization and foresight.

This is where Aurora excels. By encoding both domain-independent decision-making rules and domain-specific heuristics, Aurora evaluates multiple possibilities and produces optimized schedules that satisfy all mission constraints. Unlike manual methods or traditional software, which may take days or weeks to resolve conflicts, Aurora generates high-quality solutions much more quickly, enabling NASA teams to make informed decisions in real time.

Proven Results at Kennedy Space Center

Aurora has consistently demonstrated its value in every application at KSC. Whether scheduling the processing of payloads, coordinating the use of shared ground equipment, or sequencing complex launch preparations, Aurora has shown measurable improvements in efficiency and resource utilization.

For example, Aurora has helped planners identify ways to reduce idle time, avoid resource conflicts, and shorten turnaround windows between tasks. These improvements translate directly into cost savings and increased mission readiness. The system’s flexibility also allows NASA to run “what-if” analyses, evaluating alternative scenarios and quickly adjusting to unexpected events such as equipment downtime or weather-related delays.

Supporting the Space Shuttle and International Space Station

Aurora has played a role in supporting some of NASA’s most iconic programs. During the era of the Space Shuttle, Aurora helped manage the intricate scheduling of shuttle processing, from vehicle assembly to launch preparations. This ensured that every piece of equipment and every step of the process aligned, enabling safe and timely launches.

Similarly, Aurora has contributed to the ongoing success of the International Space Station (ISS) by helping coordinate the preparation and scheduling of missions that deliver critical payloads and supplies. These missions demand an extraordinary level of precision, as delays can disrupt not only the launch schedule but also the station’s ongoing operations. Aurora’s ability to optimize complex schedules has been a vital asset in keeping these missions on track.

Looking Toward the Future

As NASA continues to embark on ambitious projects such as Artemis missions to the Moon, preparations for future Mars exploration, and expanded commercial spaceflight initiatives, the need for advanced scheduling technology has never been greater. Aurora’s proven track record makes it a trusted tool for ensuring resources are used effectively, costs are controlled, and missions launch on time.

Stottler Henke is proud that Aurora has become an integral part of NASA’s toolkit, contributing to the success of past programs and helping shape the future of space exploration. By combining cutting-edge AI scheduling with NASA’s pioneering spirit, the collaboration continues to push the boundaries of what is possible—both on Earth and beyond.