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Systems Engineering Division

Systems Engineering Division

The Systems Engineering Division (TEC-SY) is responsible for:

Allows translating the needs from the users, design architecture of the system accordingly, define its building strategy and control the integration of subsystems to coherently achieve the final result.

Monitors and controls design, development and verification of the system such that it can fulfil the mission objectives within acceptable technical and programmatic frames.

Focus on the space system as a whole gathering data and information from many separate subsystems forming the overall system

Contact

For any enquiries on this division, please refer to the assigned contacts:

Agnes Mestreau

Head of System Engineer Division

Ilaria Roma

Head of Systems and Concurrent Engineering Section

Michel Van Pelt

Head of the cost engineering section

Main responsibilities

Providing system engineering and performance analysis support to all phases

Managing and executing system studies and activities conducted by D/TEC, in particular to investigate new system concepts and architectures to answer future mission and user needs

Research and development of system engineering methods

Managing internal pre-Phase A mission and system design studies or trade-offs executed using the CDF and with the participation of ad hoc interdisciplinary teams from across ESA

Providing cost estimates and cost engineering analysis, databases and tools in support of programs and projects -- as well as internal mission and system design studies executed in the CDF, technology developments and future space systems

Developing cost engineering methodologies and improving the Agency’s overall capability in cost analysis

The development of system engineering standards in the frame of the ECSS and ESA Standardisation Boards.

Why it is needed

Systems Engineering is key for any space missions because:

It allows appropriately translating needs from the users and the design architecture of the system, defining its building strategy and controlling the integration of subsystems to coherently achieve the final result.
It monitors and controls design, development and verification of the system such that it can fulfil the mission objectives within acceptable technical and programmatic frames.
It focuses on the space system as a whole, gathering data and information from many separate subsystems forming the overall system.

Discover more on System engineering

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What is Systems Engineering in the Early Design Phases? 1/2

In the early phases (e.g. Phase 0/A/B), Systems Engineering encompasses an iterative design process targeting fulfillment of the final mission objectives and respect of the constraints.

What orbit will the mission need as a consequence? What kind of instruments and how large a payload? What will be the payload's optimum operating temperature, and how much power will it require? How stable and steerable does the spacecraft platform have to be? What kind of communication infrastructure and associated ground segment will the mission need? Which launcher will be best suited to deliver it into space?

There can be many potential solutions to each of the above questions, and therefore early phases Systems Engineering includes trade-offs aiming at exploring and comparing different options based on performance, risk, cost, reliability and schedule, among other criteria.

What is Systems Engineering in the Early Design Phases? 2/2

The subsequent 'Phase B' studies turn the preliminary design into a more detailed system design, which can be developed further.

The design is performed by a team which includes – together with the systems engineer -- experts on the various technical disciplines.

Among the most important factors in deciding whether to proceed to a further stage is a mission's likely cost. The process of putting an accurate price tag onto space projects is an associated discipline within the Systems Engineering domain called 'Cost Engineering'.

Since 1998, Phase 0/A design teams have also assessed mission concept feasibility by applying Concurrent Engineering methods and tools, in a dedicated facility called the Concurrent Design Facility

What is MBSE Model Based Systems Engineering?

Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) is a hot topic in engineering today and the Systems Engineering Division is home to MBSE development within TEC. MBSE is a methodology focusing on the use of digital models as the primary means of information representation and exchange among engineers, replacing the traditional use of documents. Engineers from the Systems Division are actively involved in the implementation of a roadmap of activities -- from technology developments to applications to projects -- defining the steps towards adoption of MBSE in space, together with stakeholders from national agencies and industry.

Why is Cost Engineering part of Systems Engineering

Cost Engineering ensures awareness of the cost implications related to engineering decisions during the early project development phases (feasibility and Phase A studies). It provides knowledge of the likely expenses associated with different potential solutions and allows decisions to be taken on a cost/benefit basis. In an interactive process, Cost Engineering narrows the error band of the cost estimates as Systems Engineering improves the system’s technical definition.

As a design matures, the cost estimates become more refined and allow the identification of areas requiring specific attention and potentially negotiation.

In support of a project’s implementation, Cost Engineering is responsible for the ESA Costing Software tool, ECOS, which is used by industry to provide coherent Financial Proposals according to the required ESA standards and regulations. ECOS aggregates and calculates the price elements of contractor financial proposals through the entire contractual chain.

More information on ECOS

ECOS

ESA Costing Software

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