Space Systems Engineering Course
— the Pilot
Lisa Guerra
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
NASA Headquarters
lisa.a.guerra@nasa.gov
October 16, 2008
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
Systems Engineering at UT-Austin
Motivation:

The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) is
responding to the NASA Administrator's call to
develop systems engineers for NASA's
exploration future.
Response:

Under the sponsorship of the Exploration
Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD), UT-Austin
invited Ms. Lisa Guerra to help create a systems
engineering program within aerospace
engineering to be responsive to the post-2010
needs of ESMD and the Constellation Program.

The intent is for the course to be a pilot,
transferable to other universities operating within
NASA's Space Grant Consortia.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
2
The Pilot Class Students
Space Systems Engineering, Spring 2008
Department of Aerospace Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
Quotes from Students in Pilot Class
“It was a ‘big picture’ view of what we may be involved in as engineers of
the future.”
“I liked how so many of the assignments asked us to evaluate the
decisions made by NASA employees from the past. It made the
homework so much more fun because it’s as if we were the NASA
employees making those same important decisions.”
“It made us think about problems beyond the right answer and the gray
area behind all decisions.”
“It is the real-world application that makes the course attractive.”
“Taking this course makes an engineer realize there is much more to
engineering than designing a given component to a set
specification.This course really teaches all the factors that go into
producing a viable space system, and some tools to achieve that end.”
“The Q&A during lecture was often the most insightful because of the
different perspectives on the topic. It was so valuable to allow the class
to interact.”
“It’s the glue!”
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
4
Space Systems Engineering Course
— The Pilot

Taught in the Spring 2008 semester to 21 hand-selected students
(with GPAs>3.0) in the UT-Austin Department of Aerospace
Engineering.

Student level of experience:
• From both junior and senior level
• Some had completed the senior capstone design course the
previous semester
• Variety of work experience: government and industry co-ops; student
satellite build projects

Added participation feature:
• The teaching assistant, John Christian, just completed a MS degree
in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech with an emphasis on
System Design and Optimization.
• One of the students was the lead systems engineer for the
Texas2Step satellite build project (sponsored by AFRL).
• The capstone design professor, Dr. Wallace Fowler, audited the
entire course.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
5
Course Goal
Not trying to make everyone who takes the course a
systems engineer, but trying to give aerospace
engineering students a systems perspective as they
approach their capstone design project.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
Perspective on the
Space Systems Engineering Course
 What is course based on?
•
Systems engineering handbooks and primers from NASA and DoD
•
Variety of professional training materials on systems engineering
•
NASA missions, experience base and documents to provide examples for
systems engineering topics, including my own experiences
•
My observations of 2 senior design classes and 1 graduate design class
•
No particular systems engineering textbook affiliated with course
 What perspective?
•
The aerospace perspective — what does it take to put a space system together
•
Practical not theoretical — use of concrete examples
•
Tools oriented, e.g., cost models, analytical hierarchy process, FMEA
 Who is course designed for?
•
Serves as prerequisite (junior year) to a senior aerospace design class
•
Could also offer to seniors, as well as other engineering discipline students
 Currently working with EE and ME departments for a Master’s level version.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Perspective on the
Space Systems Engineering Course

What competencies are emphasized?
• Obtain a working knowledge of systems engineering concepts
• Execute certain systems engineering tools
• Improve techniques for communicating and critiquing products
• Be prepared to execute a student design project.

How is the course structured?
• Structured in a modular fashion, such that
 Module topics can be inserted into existing courses
 Modules can be re-ordered according to teaching preference
 Modules can be added or deleted based on topic interest
• Module lengths vary — some may take 2 class lectures to complete
the content.
• Modules contain notes pages and backup slides for additional
content or further explanation.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Sequence of Modules Included in
Space Systems Engineering Course
1.
What is systems engineering?
13. Margins
2.
Teamwork
14. Technical Performance Measures
3.
Project life cycle
15. Cost analysis
4.
Mission scope and concept of
operations
16. Risk analysis
5.
System architecture
6.
System hierarchy and work
breakdown structure
17. Technology Readiness Levels
18. Trade studies
19. System reliability
7.
Analytical hierarchy process
20. Validation & Verification
8.
Requirements: development
basics; writing; management of
21. Technical reviews
9.
Functional analysis
10. System synthesis*
11. Design fundamentals
22. Schedule development
23. Systems engineering &
management roles/plans
24. Engineering ethics
12. System interfaces*
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
* New modules; not in pilot
9
Additional Topics in Pilot but not Included
in Distributed Materials
 Probability & Statistics Primer
• Professor from Operations Research department guest lectured
• Aerospace engineering students not required to take in
undergraduate course sequence
 Monte Carlo Analysis
• One of the assignments applied the technique.
• Tutorial provided to understand how to use and program in Matlab.
 Modeling and Simulation
• In future semesters, will be addressed as part of the new 1 hour
Spacecraft Systems Modeling Lab.
• This lab will be a co-requisite to the Space Systems Engineering
course.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Course Special Feature
Pause and Learn Opportunity
 Use of project examples, particularly the
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
•
Requirements documents
•
Technology story
•
Technical performance measures
•
Work breakdown structure
•
Concept of Operations
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
 Associated and current readings related
to systems engineering, examples:
•
NY Times article, 2007
•
M. Griffin SE speech at Purdue, 2007
•
M. Griffin architecture lecture, 2008
•
Crosslink cost article, 2001
•
NASA ASK management article, 2007
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Student Assignments from the Pilot Course
 Homework assignments
•
•
•
•
Group and Individual
Writing and problem-solving/programming
One assignment per week
Periodic group presentations
 Exams
• Mid-term (1 hour); in-class
• Final (3 hours allotted, but took 2 hours); in-class
 Semester-long assignment
• Select a book from the suggested reading list
• Write a 10 page paper discussing the book and its
relevancy to the systems engineering learning.
• Samples from the list:
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Additional Course Resources
Reference documents:
 NASA Systems Engineering Handbook;
2007 & 1995 editions
 Defense Acquisition University Systems
Engineering Fundamentals; 2001
 SMC/AF Systems Engineering Primer &
Handbook, 2005
DVDs for student viewing:
 So You Want to be a Systems Engineer?
Personal Behaviors of a Systems
Engineer – 53 mins.; 2005
 Systems Engineering – When the Canvas
is Blank – 45 mins.; 2007
Gentry Lee, JPL
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Results from Official UT-Austin
Course Evaluation Survey
Background:
 21 surveys returned
 Values were assigned on a 5-point scale
•
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Most favorable response = 5
Least favorable response = 1
Course well-organized
Communicated information effectively
Showed interest in student progress
Student freedom of expression
Course of value to date
6. Overall course rating
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
4.7
4.6
4.8
4.9
4.9
4.7
14
Student Evaluation of Class Structure
(from unofficial survey)
Scoring:
(1) strongly disagree; (2) disagree; (3) no
opinion/neutral; (4) agree; (5) strongly agree
 Use of class interaction and Q&A with the
professor was at the right level.
4.3
 Class video and guest lecturer enhanced
learning and reinforced topics.
3.8
 The use of lecture briefing notes and not a
textbook was an adequate delivery of the
material.
4.3
 Additional materials (such as JWST
examples or outside readings) enhanced
lecture notes.
4.5
 Learned new concepts and methods with
assignments.
4.6
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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ABET Criteria 2000 Outcomes Achieved
This course contributes to the following EC2000 Criterion 3 outcomes.
Outcome
Outcome
g. An ability to communicate
effectively

b. An ability to design and conduct
experiments, as well as to analyze and
interpret data
h. The broad education necessary
to understand the impact of
engineering solutions in a
global/societal context

c. An ability to design a system,
component, or process to meet desired
needs
i. A recognition of the need for
and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
a. An ability to apply knowledge of
mathematics, science, and engineering
d. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and
solve engineering problems
f. An understanding of professional and
ethical responsibility
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot




j. A knowledge of contemporary
issues

k. An ability to use the
techniques, skills, and modern
engineering tools necessary for
engineering practice

l. Begin list of any other
outcomes unique to the program.
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New Course Features from Summer Update
 Space Systems Engineering Course
materials reviewed and updated by
Paul Graf, University of ColoradoBoulder.
 Added new modules to focus on
System Synthesis, System
Architecture, and Interfaces.
 Provided updates to existing pilot
modules. (& sanity check)
 Provided additional space mission
examples.
 Provided more articles for reading
assignments.
 Suggested alternative semester-long
project using mission failure reports.
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Potential Topics to Include in Future Versions




Software design and development
Acquisition Strategy
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Specialty engineering:
• Human Factors,
• Maintainability,
• Logistics support, etc.
Topic ideas from students in pilot class:





Quality methodologies, e.g., six sigma, ISO-9000
Team staffing and retention
Use of “best practices” and benchmarking
Communication skills
Legal issues
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Charge to Workshop Audience
 Today, version 1.0
 Welcome exchange of ideas
 Leveraging the resources of
academic community to share
material to make this better
 Lessons learned in teaching this
material
 New module development and
inclusion in later versions
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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Questions or
Comments?
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
20
L. Guerra’s Planned Efforts for 2009-2010
 Develop website to continue dissemination of systems
engineering curriculum
• Allow for publication of updates
• Enable sharing of improvements and lessons learned from faculty
using the materials
 Enable faculty grants to improve course materials
 Enhance communication on systems engineering
• Participate at the ASEE National Conference (2009 in Austin)
Presentation/workshop on NASA’s systems engineering activities
 Develop graduate-level course based on undergraduate Space
Systems Engineering course
 Initiate a Master’s degree program in Systems Design at UTAustin (with ASE, EE & ME departments)
Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot
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