Caroline Lange

Systematic reuse and platforming: Application examples for enhancing reuse with model-based systems engineering methods in space systems development

Despite popular belief, space missions are not always one-of-a-kind, but are frequently benefiting from explicit or implicit reuse of different types. The Venus Express mission is one example of cost savings by reusing existing hardware in a new mission context. Other examples are based on the platform approach, popular, for example, in geostationary telecommunication satellites, which benefits from a pre-planned reuse and its application to a family of missions with commonality. While the latter is handled more strategically, promising more gain in its execution, the Venus Express example is more of an ad hoc nature. Given the increasing importance of design reuse, the practical question to be answered in this article is how to promote it using effective engineering methods and processes. Model-based systems engineering often advertises itself as especially beneficial to reuse projects and we provide a systematic review of the respective capabilities in this article. Furthermore, we describe two reuse application examples: an asteroid nanolander based on the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout lander currently flying onboard Hayabusa2 and a Small Satellite Platform for Earth science missions. With Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout’s heritage generating strong interest for future small body missions, this creates a case for what we call ad hoc reuse. Conversely, the Small Satellite Technology Platform, which is currently in its definition phase, can be classified as systematic reuse case with the aim of developing a commonality-based small satellite family, suitable for a set of rapidly recurring missions in low Earth orbit. Our study of the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout-2 reuse case has provided insights into reuse requirements, which are mapped to typical model-based systems engineering features that create value beyond those offered by classical approaches. The article identifies key areas where model-based systems engineering provides benefits in reuse cases: requirements reuse, system context analysis as well as interface compatibility checking. It further outlines an overall approach regarding tools and development processes.

The Network Infrastructure for the ROBEX Demomission Space

The demonstration mission space of the alliance Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments (ROBEX) was a campaign on Mt. Etna in summer 2017. The network infrastructure and parts of the ground segment for this demonstration mission space were set up by the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of the DLR. The ground segment included a control center which was based near Catania, Italy. Various terminals allowed for controlling a lander, a robotic rover and several experiment carriers which have been placed in 23 km airline distance on Mt. Etna. The distance was bridged by a radio link between the control center and a base camp at the demonstration site. From the base camp a shorter radio link of several hundreds of meters to the lander was established, and from there, the signal was distributed using several access points.

Study on strategies for planetary exploration within the HG-project “Planetary Evolution and Life”

The search for life and water on other planetary bodies is of high interest for the space science community. 12 Since 2008, Helmholtz Association (HG) supports a project, the so-called Helmholtz Alliance for “Planetary Evolution and Life”, which was set up with members consisting of planetary scientists and engineers. In this project, members aim at solving some of the important questions on how life formed, evolved on Earth as well as potentially on other extraterrestrial bodies. We, the engineers are concerned with mission concept and systems design in order to assist the scientists by identifying solutions through innovative and feasible mission concepts. As this work is always driven by the science objectives on one hand and the technological capabilities on the other hand, we developed a science-driven approach to mission design. A review of the options of available technology and limitations of state of the art technology will be presented in this paper. A survey of all scientists in the alliance was made to understand science objectives and an appropriate mission concept is chosen. One such mission concept is the “Mars Cave Explorer” that was conceptualized based on the need to explore sub-surface caves on Mars. This mission uses a rover to carry a set of miniaturized robots onboard. The optimization approach followed for designing the main rover follows a Genetic Algorithm, an evolutionary algorithm as a systems engineering tool. It is used for identifying suitable design parameters iteratively. Also the challenges faced by the rover designer for cave exploration on Mars is studied and described.

Transfer, adaptation and further development of terrestrial ocean vehicle technology for the exploration of the Jovian Moon Europa

In this paper we analyze a scenario, in which a hydrobot would be sent through the several kilometers thick ice layer of the Jovian Moon Europa, integrated in a melting probe, and once reaching the ocean, would perform a highly autonomous investigation of its habitability. The hydrobot would be either swimming or driving at the bottom of the ocean or the underside of the ice layer, equipped with a set of instruments for analyzing environmental conditions and the biological potential of the nearby water, the ice and the sediment, as well as carrying technology to map the surrounding area. We will analyze requirements for such a mission from a space-engineering point of view and investigate the potential of terrestrial ocean vehicle technology to fulfill these requirements, including the identification of areas for further development.