EN.675.

600: Systems Engineering for Space Module 2 Homework

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Module 2 Homework consists of 4 problems for a total of 100 points.

Problem #1 (10 points)

Same as last week: To be a very good systems engineer, you must be committed to be an
excellent communicator. Make your discussions, your documents, your presentations, and your
communiques` stand-alone, unambiguous, clear, and crisp. And don’t leave the most important
things to doubt. Why not start practicing these principals with your homework submissions?

1a. For an easy 5 points, please include the following:

1. Your Name
2. Course Name and Number
3. Assignment Title
4. Date

1b. For another easy 5 points, please ensure the following:

1. Your submission is organized, neat, clear, and to the point.
2. There are no spelling or grammatical errors.
3. The format is formal and professional.

Remember that this is a graduate level course.

Problem #2 (30 points)

2a. How is Needs Analysis carried out for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate? Once
developed, how are these needs documented and communicated?

2b. What is the role of the US DoD’s Initial Capabilities Document in the context of Needs
Analysis?

Grading considerations: This question is intended to cause you to explore NASA’s and DoD’s
approach to Needs Analysis, the critical first-phase of the SDLC. To make life extra easy for
you, relevant information for 2a can be found here:
https://www.nap.edu/resource/21788/RiB-surveyofsurveys-spread.pdf.
For 2b, you might want to reference this document:
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a606328.pdf.

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EN.675.600: Systems Engineering for Space Module 2 Homework
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Solution:

These solutions are derived from the references cited above. The reference materials, of course,
should be studied so you can obtain a full understanding.

2a. Every 10 years, the National Research Council convenes groups of scientists and engineers
that over a 2-year period, work to capture priorities and recommendations for thrusts in specific
space science fields such as “astronomy and astrophysics, planetary science, solar and space
physics, and Earth science. ... The democratic decadal survey process has smoothly and reliably
defined the scientific frontier and the nation’s agenda in these disciplines each decade, gaining
strong support from scientific communities as credible and unbiased science assessments.” The
result of each study is published as a Decadal Survey in the particular specialty area. This is an
effective method of needs analysis because the analysis is executed by those heavily involved in
the scientific communities NASA is essentially there to serve. Specifically, internal NASA
politics or biases of individual NASA leaders or managers become less influential when mission
objectives are defined. When one realizes that the scientific community at-large has access to
nearly all NASA mission data, then it is that same scientific community that collectively makes
up the true “users.” In that sense, the Decadal Studies explicitly capture the “user needs” of that
community and those studies represent an exquisite example of user needs analysis at work.

2b. Chapter 6 of the above reference clearly describes the role of the ICD in the user needs
analysis process.

Problem #3 (30 points)

As applied to a space system development program, what activities would be expected to occur
in the “Engineering Development” stage of the SDLC?

Grading considerations: This may take a little bit of research - the NASA SE Handbook is a
good resource for this question, but certainly not the only one. Your answer should provide an
overview of the specific space system development activities that map to the phases of the
Engineering Development stage as described in the lecture material and the text book. Note: we
are not asking for a simple restatement of what is in the lecture and text.

Solution:

From a previous student’s submission, augmented with some clarifications:

Kossiakoff defines three sub-sections of the engineering development stage: Advanced

Development, Engineering Design, and Integration & Evaluation. Below adapts from lists of
typical activities under the different NASA mission phases in the NASA Systems Engineering
Handbook and categorizes them according to Kossiakoff.

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EN.675.600: Systems Engineering for Space Module 2 Homework
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• Advanced Development
o Review of architecture of interconnected mission sub-systems
o Analysis, re-design, and re-consideration of high-risk sub-systems
o Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)
o Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
• Engineering Design
o Design sub-systems to detailed level (part or largest purchased element)
o Interface Control Documents for sub-system communication
o Critical Design Reviews (CDR)
o Production Readiness Review(s) (PRR)
o Fabricate and assemble sub-systems/components
o Component-level testing
• Integration & Evaluation
o System Integration Review (SIR)
o Based on component-level testing data, verify that all subsystems will meet
functional requirements:
§ Will the instrument be able to make the measurements at the required
resolution(s)?
§ Will the on-board data handling be fast enough to not drop packets?
§ Does analysis predict that the solar panels will provide enough power to
cover the spacecraft and instruments?
o Test Readiness Review (TRR)
o Integrate instrument/payload with the bus & additional testing
o Environmental testing (Thermal Vacuum, Vibration Chamber)

Problem #4 (30 points)

At the time it was developed, the space shuttle represented an extremely complex system using
leading edge technology in numerous areas. Give three examples of critical shuttle components
that represented unproven technology at the time of the development of the shuttle and discuss
prototyping and testing used to reduce operational risks to an acceptable level.

Grading considerations: Chapter 3 of the text discusses why this type of activity is important
during the development of complex systems. Identifying unproven technologies that were
developed, and speculating on general prototyping and testing approaches, will earn partial
credit. Full credit will be awarded for doing research (as needed) and describing the actual
prototyping and testing that was performed.

Solution:

A number of different technologies “unproven” at the time of the development of the shuttle
could be studied. The primary ones can be found at https://history.nasa.gov/sts25th/tech.html.
Additional research can easily uncover the actual prototyping and testing that was performed by
the engineering team.

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