overview of the aerospace corporation’s concept design...
TRANSCRIPT
Systems Engineering Division
The Aerospace Corporation
16 December 2010
Overview of The Aerospace Corporation’s
Concept Design Center
Daniel Nigg, Director
Concept Design Center
Architecture & Design Subdivision
Copyright © 2010 The Aerospace Corporation
Concept Design Center
The Aerospace CorporationAssuring Mission Success
• Operates a Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC)
that provides scientific and engineering support for launch, space, and
related ground systems
– Specialized facilities and continuity of effort required for programs that
often take decades to complete
– End-to-end involvement reduces development risks and costs, and allows
for a high probability of mission success
• Corporate core competencies include
– Launch certification
– System-of-systems engineering
– Systems development and acquisition
– Process implementation
– Technology application
The Concept Design Center (CDC) is one capability frequently used to address the majority of these core competencies
Concept Design Center
Why is concept design important?Though space is vast, there’s no room for error
• Early programmatic decision making
– Rapid yet thorough tradespace exploration of new concepts and block upgrades
provides better insight into system needs
– Identify drivers
– Determine feasibility
– Assess margins and risks
– Identify technology on-ramps
– Refine and validate requirements
– Identify alternatives and improvements
– Path pruning
• Proposal analysis and source selection
– Define government reference architecture
– Provide technical inputs to cost estimation
• Establishing future ETG reachback
– Milestone decision support (PDR, CDR, etc.)
– Technology readiness assessments
– Program redirection
Of all decisions affecting life cycle costs, approximately 70% are made during Concept Design
Program
Phase
Cum
ula
tive %
of
Life Cycle Cost
Determination
Cost Reduction
Opportunities
Budget
Concept Design Center
CDC CapabilitiesBringing customers and technical experts together
• The CDC provides answers to the unique
challenge of system conceptualization
through effective collaboration in order to
design and evaluate space and ground
systems in real time
• Current investigations involve various
teams focusing on technical solutions
– Systems Architecture Team (SAT)
– Space Segment Team (SST)
– Ground Segment Team (GST)
– Electo-Optical Payload Team (EOPT)
– Communications Payload Team (CPT)
Level of Detail
Desig
n S
co
pe
Utility Definition
Concept Design
Preliminary Design
Critical Design
SAT
CPT &
EOPT
SST &
GST
The CDC has been a Corporate resource serving both the National Security Space and Civil Space communities since its inception in the mid-1990s
Concept Design Center
Who uses the CDC?A variety of customers and missions – each with unique requirements
• Primary customers include the Space and Missile Systems Center of
Air Force Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office
• Additional support is provided to
– National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
– National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
– Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
– Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
• Notable programs supported include
– Communications/Navigation
Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS)
– NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS)
– Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)
– Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
SAT
CPT
EOPT
GST
SST
Approximately 300 CDC studies completed (1997-2010)
Concept Design Center
Teams leverage the full breadth and
depth of required expertise available
– Experience across many programs
– Can include regional site experts as
needed
– 26 average years of experience since
bachelor degree
Processes integrate team & design
tools to produce quality results quickly
CDC PillarsSuccess built on experience and lessons learned
Facilities promote interaction and
connection with technical staff and
customers
– Support for communications and data
exchange
– Workstations, servers,
networks, video projection,
audio/video teleconferencing
Proven, repeatable, and consistent results by calling on many of the same subject matter experts and integrating the tools they use to support programs well beyond Concept Design
Concept Design Center
Multidisciplinary CDC Teams… and their interactions
• System Architecture Team (SAT)
– Constellation design and coverage analysis
– Top-level element sizing and interface definition
– Relative cost versus requirements and utility
• Space Segment Team (SST)
– Payload and spacecraft subsystem design
– Detailed cost and performance estimation
– Top-level ground segment and software sizing
• Ground Segment Team (GST)
– Facilities, personnel, processing,communications, and cost estimates
– Top-level space segment sizing
• Electro-Optical Payload Team (EOPT) &
Communications Payload Team (CPT)
– Detailed payload subsystem trades
– Performance and cost estimation
– Mission requirements implications
– Top-level spacecraft and ground segment estimation
Payload
Processing
Software Risk
Cost
SystemsArchitecture
Team
PayloadSystemsTeams
SpaceSegment
Team
GroundSegment
Team
Customer
Core team members for each study plus additional unique expertise as required
Concept Design Center
CIVIL &
COMMERCIAL
SYSTEM
INTEGRATION
SPACE
SYSTEMS
GROUND
SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENTAL
PLANNING
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS
PLANNING
SPACE LAUNCH
Vehicle Concepts
Engineering Data Systems
Product & Process Assurance
Acquisition Risk & Reliability Engineering
Ground Systems Infrastructure Development
System Delivery & Operations
Astrodynamics
Performance
Modeling & Analysis
Navigation &
Geopositioning
Systems
Modeling &
Simulation
Mission Analysis &
Operations
Space Architecture
Systems
Performance,
Estimation, &
Algorithms
Concept Design
Center
Cost, Schedule, &
Requirements
Economic & Market
Analysis
Systems
Architecture,
Engineering, & Cost
Reliability &
Statistics
Laboratory
Operations
Systems
Engineering
Computers
& Software
Communications
& Networking
Digital
Communication
Implementation
Communication
Electronics
Antenna Systems
Communication
Architectures
Communication
Systems
Engineering
Network Systems
Communication &
Signal Analysis
Computer Systems
Research
Ground Systems
Advanced
Information Systems
Technology
Information
Assurance
Technology
Software Assurance
Engineering
Applications
Telemetry &
Hardware
Technology
Software
Architecture &
Engineering
Software Systems
Analysis
Software Acquisition
& Process
Software Systems
Engineering
Control Analysis
Electromechanical
Control
Flight Software
Validation
Guidance Analysis
Fluid Mechanics
Propulsion
Spacecraft Thermal
Flight Mechanics
Environments, Test,
& Assessment
Structural Dynamics
Structures
Mechanical Systems
Electronics
Propulsion
Materials
Space Environment
Mission Oriented
Research
Special Sensor
Fabrication
Remote Sensing
Signatures
MEMS
Digital & Integrated
Circuit Electronics
Electronics & Power
Systems
Parts, Materials, &
Processes
Space Electronics
Vulnerability
Radar & Signal
Systems
Electro-Optical
Device Evaluation
Visible & Infrared
Sensor Systems
Imagery Products &
Exploitation
Exploitation,
Phenomenology, &
Analysis
Digital Electronics &
Electromagnets
Advanced Sensor
Engineering
Electronics
& Sensors
Vehicle
Systems
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP
>1300 Engineers & Scientists
OrganizationTeams are staffed from the ETG Matrix
Concept Design Center
CDC InvestigationsSST Examples
Technology Insertion
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
Bus
Payload
Propellant
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
Bus
Payload
Propellant
LaunchPerformance
to GTO
Advanced
Technology
Proposal Analysis
New Concepts & Block Changes
Parametric
Trade Studies
Payload Concept Spacecraft Bus Concept
Proposal #1Proposal #1 Proposal #2Proposal #2Proposal #1Proposal #1 Proposal #2Proposal #2
Data for Costing
Design
Information
Concept Assessment
Contractor Concept
Feasibility
Alternatives
Improvements
Margins...
Adaptable application of expert knowledge, tools, and processes
Program or
Other Cost
Group
Concept Design Center
• Subsystem designers’ workbooks exchange data through server
• Subsystem interfaces are well-defined
• Design and analysis tools are independent of the underlying SQL database
• Standard network communications architecture
Design/Analysis
Tool
Client
ODBC Driver
Design/Analysis
Tool
Client
ODBC Driver
Design/Analysis
Tool
Client
ODBC Driver
Design/Analysis
Tool
Client
ODBC Driver
Server
Database
Design Data
Thermal Structures, ADACS,
Comm, Cost, Utility, etc.,
as needed
PowerAstrodynamics
Different mix of technical
experts, depending on
team needs
TCP/IP
IDEA tool facilitates the processIntegrated Data Exchange Architecture
Customers, subject matter experts, & database do not need to be co-located
Concept Design Center
Core Teams with CDC Experience,
Specific Customer Familiarity, &
Mission Expertise
Specific Customer
Familiarity & Mission
Expertise
Operations
Expertise
Technology Roadmaps &
Experimental Mission Expertise
Collaboration with Other
Candidate Design Center(s)
Distributed Concurrent EngineeringNetworks link multiple design centers in real-time
Strengthening customer and collaborator relationships regardless of geographic location
Concept Design Center
Acquisition Strategy
Blocks, Spirals
Contracting
Down-Selection
CONOPS
Operational Views
Performance
Capacity
Quality
Utility
Availability
Schedule
Milestones
Tech On- & Off-Ramps
Software
Management Strategy
Funding
Budget Profile
Risk
Identification
Mitigation
CPDE
Subsystem Mass & Power Estimates, Growth Contingencies, SV
Dry Mass, Mission delta-V, Propellant Mass, EOL Power, BOL
Power (Solar Array & Battery sizing), Thermal Cycling, Technology
Readiness, Design Heritage, Comm Availabilities & Durations,
Inertias, Deployed & Stowed Packaging, LV Margin, SLOC,
Facilities, Personnel, Life Cycle Costs (Dev, Prod, O&M)
Performance Requirements
Optical Aperture
Data Collection Rates
Onboard Processing
Power Modes
Data Volume
Data Latency
Data Downlink Rates
Comm Bandwidth & Power
Pointing Accuracy
Pointing Knowledge
Mission Requirements
Constellation Size
Orbit(s)
Mission Lifetime
SV Design Life
Survivability
Radiation
Maneuvers
Availability
Replenishment
Design Constraints
Tech Freeze
Launch Vehicle
Customer Inputs
Payload
Processing
Software
Risk
Cost
SpaceSegment
Team
Concurrent Program Definition EnvironmentAdding expanded context to the technical product
Incorporates programmatic assessments through feed back into technical team sessions
Concept Design Center
CDC Events TimelineTypical for studies with new or repeat customers
• Study Planning (2 to 8 weeks)*
– Customer and CDC systems engineer scope the study
– Generate Statement of Work (SOW)
– Tool Development and Research
– Pre-Session Design/Analysis Work
• Subset of the team & customer meet to work specific issues
• CDC design session (2 to 4 half-days)*
– Mission and customer introduction
– Customer describes mission goals, needs, wants, and desires
– Team gathers information from the customer
– Concurrent design process
• Post-CDC session activities (4 weeks)*
– Comprehensive report
– Contributions by each team member and customer
– Detailed assumptions including risk areas and technical considerations
* Timeline assumes minimal tool development & focused study objectives
Concept Design Center
Types of Success in the CDCContinuing effort to improve and expand these capabilities
• Design Validation
– CDC design validated contractor design very close to what will fly
• Requirements Validation
– Rapid exploration of configurations provided better insight into system needs;
requirements rewritten to be unambiguous and verifiable
• Technical Improvements
– Optimized constellations and replenishment strategies to save costs
– Developed alternate SV transfer orbit designs, increasing available SV mass for
payloads or propellant
• Cost Reduction
– Careful orbit selection to optimize SV duty cycle and power sizing reduced the initial
estimated SV mass, allowing spacecraft to fly on smaller launch vehicle
• Path Pruning
– Vetting unfeasible ideas early, saving program cost that would be needed to explore
or develop them
• Team Building
– Accelerated customer education – early-on, program personnel are still learning
about their system-to-be, and will carry early knowledge and decisions with them
– Sharpen skills for other activities such as source selection or cost estimation
Concurrent design provides our customers with timely, integrated, lower risk solutions
Concept Design Center
SummaryFlexible capabilities for conceptual design
• The CDC
– Serves the entire NSS community
– Provides insight into the performance, cost, & risk of requirements
– Addresses space system architecture, spacecraft, ground systems, and
payload concepts
– Supports key programmatic decisions by providing sound unbiased
technical information throughout program development
• Advanced planning, trade studies, cost estimates
• RFP preparation, source selection
• Milestone decision support, program redirection
• CDC studies can be a gateway into the rest of The Aerospace Corporation
– Technical reach-back to entire engineering matrix and toolset
– Significant cross-program knowledge base and experience
– Adaptable framework supporting design and development activities
Real-time, collaborative, concurrent engineering in Concept Design enables our customers to make informed decisions
Concept Design Center
Continued successBuilt on lessons learned
• The CDC’s real-time, collaborative, concurrent engineering
– Is a capability used to rapidly explore the impacts of mission and design
requirements on a system• To enable the design of new concepts or block changes and assessment of
proposed designs (in terms of feasibility, alternatives, improvements, margins, etc.)
• Determine implications of technology insertion
• Provide technical data for program cost estimation efforts
• Identify and characterize risks early in a program’s lifecycle
– Requires the right mix of• Suitable facilities and infrastructure
• Evolving processes and tools (including standardization and configuration control)
• Experienced (yet adaptable) subject matter experts with organizational reach-back
and support
• Regular interaction and solicitation of feedback from customers, team members,
and their management to direct development of future capabilities
CDC and Corporate leadership are active in the “Concurrent Engineering” community
Systems Engineering Division
16 December 2010
Overview of The Aerospace Corporation’s
Concept Design Center
Daniel Nigg, Director
Concept Design Center
Architecture & Design Subdivision