Web App
B2B
UX/UI
Dashboard Design
Design Systems

Mission Control & Satellite Commanding Tool

ISISPACE Group

The design of a web-based application to command satellites. The tool includes a commanding dashboard, pages where the non-satellite operators can monitor the missions, and an admin dashboard for managing the missions and the user.

Overview

Industry
Aerospace Industry
When
November 2022 - May 2023
Product Status
MVP design of the Satellite Commanding and Admin Dashboard
Team & My Role
Team Leader
UX/UI Designer (myself)
Software Engineer - Fullstack Developer
Problem

Current tools were not fulfilling all of the operators' needs and they weren’t very efficient.

Goal

Designing a new tool that would allow the operators to command the satellites smoothly and that would inform them in the process of what is currently happening to the satellites and to the sent commands.

Challenges

Very technical tool, full of complicated processes that can be difficult to understand for someone not trained in the topic.

Combining users’ favorite features from two different tools and satisfying everyone's needs.

Solution

Implementing a Commanding Dashboard, with sections for commands, the queued list of commands, and the list of executed commands.

Visual feedback regarding the executed commands so that the operators will know what is happening to the commands.

Adding a commands grouping feature that allows the users to save the commands as custom sequences and use them for commanding the satellites from the Commanding Dashboard.

Design Impact

All the necessary elements for commanding are on one page, so the operators don’t have to open multiple tabs to control everything. The design of the UI is based on the operators' user journeys and is focused on making the operating processes smooth and intuitive. The space for maintenance and monitoring is separate from commanding to reduce human errors.

Final Design

Satellite Commanding Dashboard

The users can queue and execute commands from one view.

Custom Commands Groups

The users can save custom command sequences and later use them for commanding.

Monitoring The Missions

Separate pages for only viewing the missions' process for non operators to avoid human errors.

Admin Dashboard

Available only for admins to manage the missions, satellites and members.

My Tasks

Understanding the requirements for the new tool based on user feedback and competitors' analysis.
Designing the information architecture and testing it with card sorting and tree test.
Designing a web-based application for desktop use only and user testing the new features.
Testing the visual design with AB tests.
Iterating the design based on user feedback.
Creating the admin space for managing the members and the missions.
Creating design systems and design guidelines for future expansions.
Design hand-off including the style guide, description of all the features, and the visual explanation UI.

Understanding the requirements for the new tool based on user feedback and competitors' analysis.

Designing the information architecture and testing it with card sorting and tree test.

Designing a web-based application for desktop use only and user testing the new features.

Testing the visual design with AB tests.

Iterating the design based on user feedback.

Creating the admin space for managing the members and the missions.

Creating design systems and design guidelines for future expansions.

Design hand-off including the style guide, description of all the features, and the visual explanation UI.

Lessons Learnt

Understanding technical processes takes time and persistence.
Questioning and suggesting ideas are common, but not all need MVP inclusion; note for future implementation.
Small user group benefits from in-person usability tests.
Usability tests also validate our understanding of complex software features.

Get in touch!

I am always open to hear about new projects. Just email me on