Systems Engineering Support
A MISSION IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL SMALL ELEMENTS, WHICH TOGETHER MAKE ONE BIG SYSTEM. THE JOB OF A SYSTEM ENGINEER IS TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, SEEING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PARTS AS A WHOLE.
They oversee the integration of all the subsystems, making sure to take into account how the mission will be used and define how it will be built to take everything into account.
One of the main roles of systems engineers is to look at ideas for new technologies at their earliest concept stages and evaluate all the different possible methods of carrying them out, weighing trade-offs to arrive at the most efficient option.
The separate elements that go into making a space mission include the space and ground segment for flight operations, launcher systems and communications infrastructure. On top of that, a spacecraft itself is made of many elements with various individual subsystems being developed by specialist teams.
The Process
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IS THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING, DEVELOPING AND VERIFYING A SPACE SYSTEM AS A SINGLE, INTEGRATED SYSTEM, THAT IS ABLE TO DELIVER A MISSION ON TIME.
The step-by-step design process starts by considering what the mission wants to achieve. What orbit will the mission need? What kind of instruments? How large a payload? What will be optimum operating temperature?How much power will it require? How stable and steerable does the spacecraft have to be? What kind of communications 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 question so system engineering is about making trade-offs in terms of performance, risk, cost, reliability and turnaround time, among other factors.
At the end of these feasibility and preliminary design studies – known as 'Phase A' studies – a baseline space system plan defines these necessary elements and initial estimates.
Follow-up 'Phase B' studies turn the preliminary design into a full system design, which can then be developed further.
Experts
The design team includes experts on the various technical disciplines that give advice on how different subsystems are best integrated into the overall design. Since 1998, a dedicated facility at ESA has brought these experts and system engineering methods – theConcurrent Design Facility.
Software
Software
As space missions become more versatile and autonomous, more and more functionalities are implemented in the software instead of the hardware. Nowadays this process has been considerably sped up by software-based simulations and concurrent engineering techniques. As space missions become more versatile and autonomous, more and more functionalities are implemented in software.
To put it another way, today software is everywhere, influencing all domains.
MATURE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY
MATURE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY
If we are going to allow technology to be used in space, it has to have proven its reliability and readiness. Systems engineering assesses the potential of technologies and their maturation.
Cost engineering is an essential part of systems engineering
Cost engineering is an essential part of systems engineering
Like most things, space missions have to be developed to a strict budget.
The process of putting an accurate price tag is a specific discipline within the systems engineering domain called 'cost engineering'.
This means engineering decisions made at Phase A take into account potential budgets and the likely expenses associated with different solutions. As a design matures, the cost estimates become more refined and identify areas requiring specific attention and potential negotiation.
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 proposals throughout the entire contractual chain.
Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE)
Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE)
Another hot topic in the systems engineering division is the home of MBSE development within TEC.
This methodology focuses on the use of digital models as the primary means of information representation and exchange between engineers, rather than the use of documents.
Our engineers are actively involved in the implementation of a roadmap of activities, from technology developments to application to projects, defining the steps towards adoption of MBSE in space, together with stakeholders from national agencies and industry.