Session
Technical Session V: Standards and Modularity
Abstract
Modular, Open, Network Architectures (MONA) hold the promise of revolutionizing space system design, integration, test, operations, and overall business practices. Primarily focused on intra-spacecraft networking, MONA approaches also have the potential of providing highly enabling inter-spacecraft networking capability for system of system (SoS) space architectures, which include homogeneous constellations, heterogeneous satellite collections, and ground command, control and payload service platforms. This networked SoS approach is especially relevant in the context of disaggregated space systems, which are hoped to reduce total ownership cost and enhance resiliency of the space enterprise. Any MONA approach utilized for disaggregated space systems will need to have appropriate capabilities, including but not limited to scalability, versatility, fault tolerance, enabling quality of service guarantees, and security. Potential architectural approaches will include existing terrestrial standards, protocols, and software communication and management services. For instance, IP-based networking at first appears to be a reasonably good approach for space-space networks. At a conceptual level, it seems simple: just use the IP hardware, protocols, and software to communicate--among components within a spacecraft, between spacecraft, and between space and ground. Almost transparently, this simple view would suggest, IP in space opens a vast realm of services for space applications. However, given the many constraints that apply to space applications, it's not as simple as it seems. In this context, various approaches to creating an efficient MONA approach for disaggregated space systems will be presented. Opportunities and challenges of such an approach will be discussed.
Presentation
Space Disaggregated Network Architectures
Modular, Open, Network Architectures (MONA) hold the promise of revolutionizing space system design, integration, test, operations, and overall business practices. Primarily focused on intra-spacecraft networking, MONA approaches also have the potential of providing highly enabling inter-spacecraft networking capability for system of system (SoS) space architectures, which include homogeneous constellations, heterogeneous satellite collections, and ground command, control and payload service platforms. This networked SoS approach is especially relevant in the context of disaggregated space systems, which are hoped to reduce total ownership cost and enhance resiliency of the space enterprise. Any MONA approach utilized for disaggregated space systems will need to have appropriate capabilities, including but not limited to scalability, versatility, fault tolerance, enabling quality of service guarantees, and security. Potential architectural approaches will include existing terrestrial standards, protocols, and software communication and management services. For instance, IP-based networking at first appears to be a reasonably good approach for space-space networks. At a conceptual level, it seems simple: just use the IP hardware, protocols, and software to communicate--among components within a spacecraft, between spacecraft, and between space and ground. Almost transparently, this simple view would suggest, IP in space opens a vast realm of services for space applications. However, given the many constraints that apply to space applications, it's not as simple as it seems. In this context, various approaches to creating an efficient MONA approach for disaggregated space systems will be presented. Opportunities and challenges of such an approach will be discussed.
