Space System of
Systems Engineering
Dr. Wanda Austin
Senior Vice President
National Systems Group
October 25, 2006
© 2006 The Aerospace Corporation
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Agenda
 Definition of System of Systems Engineering
 Challenges in Space
 Role of Software Engineering
 How CSSE can help
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What is System of Systems Engineering?*
The process of planning, analyzing, organizing, and
integrating the capability of a mix of existing and new systems
into a system-of-system capability that is greater than the
sum of the capabilities of the constituent parts.
The process emphasizes the process of discovering,
developing, and implementing standards that promote
interoperability among systems developed via different
sponsorship, management, and primary acquisition processes.
* USAF SAB Report: System of Systems Engineering for Air Force
Capability Development, July 2005
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What is a System of Systems?
Small stovepipes
to large stovepipes – NO
Loosely coupled and tightly
integrated – YES
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Uniqueness of Space
 “One Strike and You’re Out”
–
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




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Post Launch Little flexibility to changing the assets
– Has to work the first time
– Small “failure” can cripple or end the mission
– No service calls in space!
Space systems are long lead items
Space systems have few qualified sources
(contractors, vendors)
Limitations on what onboard software can do to add
capabilities and fill gaps
Complexity of multiple-mission satellites adds time,
cost, rigidity
Interoperate with ground and air assets
Support users who don’t understand space
Photograph reprinted courtesy of the USAF
Titan IV A-20
12 August 1998
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Nature of Space System of Systems
(SOS) Engineering
 Complex multi-attribute tradeoffs
–
Technology is typically the enabler
–
Challenges are also managerial, organizational, and cultural
 Multi-faceted Constraints
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Evolving set of interlocking issues and constraints
–
No definitive statement of the problem; requirements continually change
–
The problem is typically understood only after a solution is developed
–
Many stakeholders care about how the problem is resolved, making the
problem-solving process fundamentally a social problem
–
Getting the “optimal” answer is less important than obtaining the
stakeholders’ acceptance of the emerging solution
–
Usually required to maintain connectivity to the legacy capability
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Technology Challenges
 Rapid innovation
 Lower barrier to entry
 Technology proliferation
 Increased capability = increased expectation
 Increased complexity and connectivity
 Persistent global access
 Competitive technologies
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Complexity in NSS Support
Increasing Complexity of
Space System-of-Systems
Weather
Imagery
Signals
Goals &
Objectives
DMSP
NSS System B
DSCS
Block 02
DSP
FLTSAT
GPS Nuclear Detection
GPS Navigation
NSS System C
NSS System A
Space
Asset
Evolution
Milsatcom UHF / EHF
Functional
Integration
Start of
Horizontal
Space System
Integration
Communications
Functional
Integration
Milsatcom Crosslinking
Leo Consolidation,
HASA, AIS, etc.
Milsatcom Global Broadcast
Full Mission
Space System
Integration
Stove Pipe
Space
Systems
Future
Direction
Space Control, SBR,
EELV, Commercial Space, etc.
Increasing
Capability
Block 06
5000.
Type
Acquisition
Spiral Acquisition
Significant
Changes in
System Acquisition
System of
System
Fully
Integrates
Mission
Support
Space
Enterprise
H
O
R
I
Z
O
N
T
A
L
1990
2000
System Development Time Line
2010
Space
Air
Weapons
Terrestrial
Partial
Integration
Space
Air
Weapons
I
N
T
E
G
R
A
T
I
O
N
Terrestrial
Information
Integration
Support
Integration
Space
Air
Separate
Missions
Weapons
Terrestrial
A-Spec Flowdown
1980
Fully
Integrated
2020
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Growth in Space Software Size
?
8
7
6
5
ESLOC (M)
4
3
2
1
0
DSP
SBIRS AEHF GPS III
HIGH
TC
SR
SOS
ESLOC (M) – Equivalent Source Lines of Code (Millions)
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Role of Software Engineering
 Bulk of System of Systems integration occurs in software
 To achieve Space SOS integration, need to develop:
–
Extremely large quantities of software
–
…created by multiple organizations
–
…with high reliability and maintainability
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…that is organized and structured for frequent change
–
…over very long life cycles
 These are difficult problems and have been for decades
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Software is a “human activity”—E. Dikstra (late 1960s)
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“Star Wars” software could not be built — David Parnas (1980s)
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Critical Success Factors
How CSSE Can Help
 Identify how complex systems or applications can best be

integrated to provide maximum utility and capability?
– Identify gaps and redundancies in capabilities
– Reduce future acquisition development cycles
– Address Testability Issues that will transcend political
structures or policies
Identify SoS solutions that can be implemented in software?
– New technologies
– Improve processes or social dynamics for software
development to overcome complexity and size issues
 Define methods for developing emerging solutions acceptable
to cross section of stakeholders
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Conclusion
 Nature of Space Systems Engineering is changing
–
Focus on system of systems engineering, with loosely
coupled and tightly integrated systems that focus on giving
the user the maximum flexibility
 Challenges abound in the changing technology, the increasing
complexity, and the amount of software
–
Uniqueness of space amplifies the challenge
–
Software is a key enabler for system of systems integration
 Establishment of CSSE is very timely!
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There are many CSSE opportunities to help address the
challenges in system of systems engineering for space
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