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CUSTOMER PROBLEM STATEMENT
Background
The Aerospace Corporation, a federally funded research and
development center, would like to determine if their customers,
National Security Space programs, should begin using the OMG Systems Modeling Language (OMG SysML™) and where it is, or is not,
appropriate. In order to meet this challenge, Aerospace has
approached the George Mason University’s (GMU)
Systems Engineering & Operations Research (SEOR) department for
assistance. By utilizing GMU’s SEOR Master’s Degree capstone
course, Aerospace can gain a wealth of knowledge in a short
period, while providing a meaningful capstone project for SEOR
students. In addition, the SEOR department can benefit by
determining if SysML is mature enough to include in the Systems
Engineering curriculum.
Problem Description
Many of Aerospace’s customers in National Security Space (NSS)
need help with architecture and modeling of both current and
future systems. These customers often have a difficult time
relating and analyzing system of systems due to currently
available methodologies and tools. The Aerospace Corporation
requested that TSS evaluate a modeling language that Aerospace
plans on using for future work for its customers. The language,
Systems Modeling Language (SysML), is a new and emerging
modeling language, which is a subset of Unified Modeling
Language (UML). The TSS team was assigned the task of exploring
the capabilities and limitations of SysML, and to make a
professional recommendation at the end of the semester,
regarding the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of this
modeling language in regard to potential future uses of SysML.
With the problem clearly defined, the TSS team selected the
Tactical Satellite 3 (TacSat-3) and used the design process as a
vehicle to explore the effectiveness of SysML. The TSS team was
also required to document the lessons learned throughout the
project and record their training and engineering hours while
designing the TacSat-3 system. That information was then to be
used in order to assess the learning curve involved with
learning and using SysML.
DESIGN PROBLEM STATEMENT
Tactical Science Solutions (TSS) has developed a design
scenario, called Quicklook, which is robust enough to answer the
questions posed by Aerospace. The Quicklook project team will
develop a SysML based architectural design and model for the
operational phase of the Tactical Satellite-3 (TacSat-3)
vehicle.
Background
United States government and military satellite systems have
traditionally been very large, expensive, and long-term
projects. The need to adapt to the changing world environment
has led policy makers to rethink this methodology. In 2005, the
President’s National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD-40
established the Responsive Space Initiative. This initiative
called for more agility in the military space arena by providing
smaller, less expensive, and more flexible systems. The Tactical
Satellite Program is one of the programs striving to reach the
goals of the Responsive Space Initiative. (TacSat-3) will be the
next iteration of the Tactical Satellite Program. TacSat-3 is a
low cost, small, rapidly deployable satellite system that will
provide responsive intelligence support to tactical and
operational military commanders.
Problem Description
The TSS Quicklook team will support the TacSat-3 development by
providing a design for the operational phase that maximizes the
following system objectives:
• Responsive delivery of hyperspectral imagery to the Warfighter
• Low cost
• Hardware modularity and re-use
• Rapid deployment |
