A Structured, Model-Based System Engineering Methodology for Operations System Design

Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for the development of mission operations systems (MOS) that leverages model-based system engineering (MBSE) techniques to make the system engineering process more rigorous and repeatable and, ultimately, to lower the cost and risk associated with MOS development. It does so by casting many of the conventional system engineering products such as requirements, interface designs and specifications, and operations processes in a structured, reusable form. This paper begins (Sect. 2) by contrasting this structured methodology with more conventional practice of system engineering in the formulation and design phases. Section 3 reviews key architectural concepts that enable the approach and that arise from considering the development of mission operations systems from a product-line perspective, rather than as singular, unique creations in the context of a single flight project. Sections 4 and 5 describe (respectively) the structure of a multi-mission operations system (MMOS) model and the methods used to adapt the MMOS for use in a particular project context. Section 6 describes adoption by a number of diverse flight projects to date, challenges they face, and advantages that they have or expect to accrue as they continue development or begin flight operations.