Package conversation research into a GSD-ready mission package. Produces a three-stage Vision → Research → Mission pipeline as a LaTeX PDF following GSD/NASA SE methodology, designed to be handed to gsd-skill-creator for execution. Use this skill when the user has been discussing, researching, or brainstorming a topic and then asks to turn it into a research mission, research pack, mission package, or says 'package this as a mission', 'make this a research pack', 'turn this into a mission for skill-creator', 'create a research mission from this', or 'use the research mission skill'. The skill harvests findings, sources, and structure from the current conversation and any prior research, then produces the complete pipeline document. Also trigger if the user asks to 'create a research mission on [topic]' cold — in that case, conduct web research first, then package.
45:T327a,# Research Mission Generator
Package conversation research into publication-quality GSD mission packages. Produces a three-stage pipeline (Vision → Research → Mission) as a LaTeX PDF, ready for handoff to gsd-skill-creator.
The typical pattern is:
The skill is a structuring and packaging tool, not a from-scratch generator. The intellectual work has already happened in conversation. This skill gives it bones.
Primary triggers (conversation already happened):
Secondary trigger (cold start — research needed first):
Scan the current conversation (and any referenced past conversations) to extract:
| Element | Where to Find It | Fallback |
|---|---|---|
| Topic & scope | User's original question or framing | Ask user |
| Key findings | Research results, web search outputs, discussion points | Conduct web research |
| Sources cited | URLs, papers, organizations mentioned in conversation | Validate via web search |
| Structure | Natural groupings that emerged in discussion | Infer modules from topic |
| Quantitative data | Numbers, percentages, measurements discussed | Source from research |
| Sensitivity areas | Cultural, safety, or ethical concerns raised | Detect from domain |
| Insights & connections | Cross-topic relationships the user identified | Preserve in synthesis module |
| User's framing | Metaphors, analogies, philosophical angles | Carry into vision narrative and through-line |
Critical: Preserve the user's own insights, framings, and connections. The conversation is the primary source material. Don't replace the user's thinking with generic content — amplify it with structure.
After harvesting, identify what's missing for a complete three-stage package:
Conduct targeted web searches ONLY to fill identified gaps. Don't re-research what the conversation already covered well.
If the user provides just a topic without prior conversation, conduct full research:
[topic] overview[topic] + relevant agency names[topic] research study findings[topic] threats challenges risks[topic] unique rare endemicSource quality rules (ABSOLUTE):
Decompose into 4–6 research modules. Prefer modules that emerged naturally from conversation structure. Each module must be:
Common module patterns by domain:
| Domain | Typical Modules |
|---|---|
| Ecology/Biology | Flora, Fauna, Fungi/Microbiome, Aquatic, Ecological Networks |
| Technology | Architecture, Implementation, Security, Performance, Integration |
| History | Context, Key Events, People, Consequences, Legacy |
| Social Science | Demographics, Causes, Effects, Interventions, Outcomes |
| Physical Science | Theory, Measurement, Analysis, Modeling, Implications |
| Education | Foundations, Curriculum, Methods, Assessment, Integration |
| Engineering | Requirements, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment |
Activation profile — based on module count and complexity:
| Modules | Profile | Crew Size | Parallel Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | Patrol | 7 roles | 1 |
| 4–5 | Squadron | 12 roles | 2 |
| 6+ | Fleet | Full crew | 3+ |
See references/crew-profiles.md for complete role assignments per profile.
Model assignment — apply the 30/60/10 principle:
Wave structure — always follows this pattern:
Read references/latex-template.md for the complete document template, color scheme selection, and formatting patterns. Read it before writing any LaTeX.
The template includes:
\stageheader)asciibox environment)Three stages in one document:
Compile with XeLaTeX (three passes):
xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode mission.tex
xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode mission.tex
xelatex -interaction=nonstopmode mission.tex
Produce both the PDF and .tex source so the user can modify and recompile.
Generate index.html with:
<a href="..." download>)Present all three files (PDF, .tex, index.html). Keep the summary brief — the user can read the document themselves.
The vision narrative should echo the user's own language, metaphors, and philosophical framing. If the user described the topic with a particular analogy during conversation, that analogy should appear in the Vision section. The through-line should connect to the GSD ecosystem philosophy (Amiga Principle, spaces between, humane flow) in a way that feels natural to the domain.
If the conversation included "thinking time" sessions (user describing complex thought processes while Claude listens), the insights from those sessions are the highest-priority content for the vision and synthesis modules. These represent the user's original thinking and should be preserved with fidelity.
If the user references past conversations about the topic, use the conversation search tools to retrieve relevant context. The mission package should integrate findings across sessions, not just the current one.
If web searches were already conducted during the conversation, extract the findings and sources directly — don't re-search the same queries. Only search for gaps.
Before delivering, verify:
These apply to ALL research missions regardless of topic:
| Rule | Boundary Type |
|---|---|
| All sources must be professional organizations, peer-reviewed, or government agencies | ABSOLUTE |
| Never publish precise locations of endangered species | ABSOLUTE |
| Use nation-specific names for Indigenous peoples (never generic) | ABSOLUTE |
| Climate/health projections from published agency data only | GATE |
| All numerical claims attributed to specific sources | GATE |
| Present evidence without policy advocacy | ANNOTATE |
references/latex-template.md — Complete XeLaTeX document template with domain-adaptive color schemes, typography, table styles, tcolorbox environments, section formatting, and full document skeleton. Read this before generating any LaTeX.references/crew-profiles.md — Activation profiles (Patrol/Squadron/Fleet) with complete role assignments, CRAFT agent naming conventions, and communication loop architecture.references/test-patterns.md — Test plan templates, universal safety-critical tests, and domain-specific test patterns for core functionality, integration, and edge cases.This skill implements these GSD ecosystem patterns:
After a conversation (primary use):
Cold start (secondary use):