Session
Poster Session 1
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
Cube Satellites (CubeSats) have become increasingly popular, particularly in academic settings, due to their affordability, rapid development timelines, and utility as platforms for student training and experimental payloads. Despite these advantages, CubeSat development presents several challenges, including limited resources such as personnel, funding, and time, as well as difficulties in maintaining comprehensive documentation and managing requirements. Student-led projects face additional obstacles, such as inexperienced team members and high turnover rates, which can result in inadequate passing of knowledge. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges and improve the efficiency of CubeSat design and development. This research explores the implementation of MBSE within an academic environment, considering its alignment with architectural frameworks and the design lifecycle. Specifically, NASA’s Space Mission Architecture Framework (SMAF) is examined. Additionally, the integration of the Arcadia MBSE process within the framework is analyzed to create a methodology. The primary objective of this work is to establish a sustainable and efficient MBSE design methodology for CubeSat development that benefits both professional engineers in academia and students. Currently, the methodology is being developed and applied to a CubeSat mission called Neutron-2. Neutron-2 is part of the University Nanosatellite Program, and it is currently between the Mission Concept Review and the System Requirement Review, meaning it is at the System Analysis stage of the methodology. Although the Logical and Physical Architecture layers have not been explored as thoroughly as the Operational and System Analysis layers, an initial approach has been defined, and future work will focus on fully developing the methodology for these stages.
Document Type
Event
Developing a Model-Based Systems Engineering Methodology for Academic CUBESAT Missions
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Cube Satellites (CubeSats) have become increasingly popular, particularly in academic settings, due to their affordability, rapid development timelines, and utility as platforms for student training and experimental payloads. Despite these advantages, CubeSat development presents several challenges, including limited resources such as personnel, funding, and time, as well as difficulties in maintaining comprehensive documentation and managing requirements. Student-led projects face additional obstacles, such as inexperienced team members and high turnover rates, which can result in inadequate passing of knowledge. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges and improve the efficiency of CubeSat design and development. This research explores the implementation of MBSE within an academic environment, considering its alignment with architectural frameworks and the design lifecycle. Specifically, NASA’s Space Mission Architecture Framework (SMAF) is examined. Additionally, the integration of the Arcadia MBSE process within the framework is analyzed to create a methodology. The primary objective of this work is to establish a sustainable and efficient MBSE design methodology for CubeSat development that benefits both professional engineers in academia and students. Currently, the methodology is being developed and applied to a CubeSat mission called Neutron-2. Neutron-2 is part of the University Nanosatellite Program, and it is currently between the Mission Concept Review and the System Requirement Review, meaning it is at the System Analysis stage of the methodology. Although the Logical and Physical Architecture layers have not been explored as thoroughly as the Operational and System Analysis layers, an initial approach has been defined, and future work will focus on fully developing the methodology for these stages.
