Value-Driven Analysis of New Paradigms in Space Architectures: An Ilities-Based Approach

Abstract

Current commercial, civil, and military space architecture designs perform exquisitely and reliably. However, today's architecture paradigms are also characterized by expensive launches, large and expensive high-performance spacecraft, long development cycles, and wide variations in ground architectures. While current assets provide high-quality services, and future assets are slated to improve performance within the same design frameworks, proposed future architectures may not be capitalizing on technology improvements, system innovations, or policy alternatives explored during the last two decades. This paper identifies five "trends" along which space architectures may develop, aimed at granting systems several "ilities," such as resiliency, robustness, flexibility, scalability, and affordability. The trends examined include: commercialization of space, significant reductions in launch costs and the development of hybrid or reusable launch systems, development of on-orbit infrastructure and servicing, aggregation or disaggregation of orbital assets, and the automation and standardization of ground architectures. Further refinement of these key technological and system trends could result in major paradigm shifts in the development and fielding of space operations as well as lead to space architecture designs in the future that are radically different from those today. Within the framework of systems engineering ilities and risk management, this paper reviews current literature surrounding these new change trends and justifies their potential to cause significant paradigm shifts. By examining the work and research conducted so far through an ilities-based approach, systems engineers can more fully appreciate the value being offered by these trends.

An economic analysis of disaggregation of space assets: Application to GPS

“…This raises questions about the long-term viability of current space architecture design practices. One possible change to the existing design practice is by implementing smaller, more responsive constellations of spacecraft which could take advantage of increased miniaturization and faster advancement in technology [4]. Such systems would have short design lives and would therefore be more in sync with current technological change rates.…”