Date of Award
5-2018
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics
Department
Aeronautics and Astronautics
Committee Chair
Daniel DeLaurentis
Committee Member 1
Barrett Caldwell
Committee Member 2
Daniel Dumbacher
Abstract
This study aims to address two major challenges faced at early stages of development, commonly called Pre-Phase A, for complex space-based mission architectures. The first challenge is a lack of detailed system information when an assessment of competing architecture concepts is needed. To counter this challenge, the Systems Operational Dependency Analysis and architecture-level parametric cost methods are used. These methods produce meaningful evaluation metrics for direct comparison of architecture concepts by utilizing both limited, high-level information as well as any detailed, low-level information that may be available. The second challenge is the ability to quickly and efficiently alter, add, or remove systems or system-attributes from a concept architecture and reevaluate using the afore mentioned methods. To counter this challenge, the Model Based Systems Engineering approach is utilized. With this approach, a single Mars concept architecture is created and quickly altered to include a second Mars variant. After that, the model is expanded to include two Moon-based variants followed by a connecting architecture with both lunar and martian missions. This task is demonstrated much more quickly than could have been possible using traditional, document-based systems engineering. The output of the tools is valuable to guide future research and concept evaluation. However, it is important to note the results are based on high-level information and expert opinion and do not claim a level of accuracy expected from Probabilistic Risk Assessment or industry-level cost methods. The focus of this study is the demonstration of a combination of tools to counter these two common challenges of early architecture development.
Recommended Citation
Zusack, Steven A., "System of Systems Analyses Using Model Based Systems Engineering" (2018). Open Access Theses. 1490.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_theses/1490