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Space and Instrument Systems
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The term "Systems Engineering" has been broadly applied to encompass a wide range of activities and backgrounds. At ATK, Systems engineers are focused on the needs of the space segment—bus, instrument payload, and related ground systems. These highly skilled individuals began their careers performing discipline-specific subsystem engineering including hands-on design, development, integration and/or test for spaceflight systems. Over time, these engineers grew in knowledge of the interfaces and interrelationships between subsystems and demonstrated a capability to both perform the detailed subsystem work and to "see the big picture."
As a result, Systems Engineering is comprised of proven discipline engineers who understand and can provide end-to-end support for subsystems, instruments, and spacecraft from conceptual design through operations. This breadth of experience and depth of insight allows the systems engineer to be a focal point of engineering activity. This broad knowledge of engineering disciplines and program requirements provides a bridge to and between all aspects of the project. The systems engineer assists the program manager and project scientist(s) by ensuring that mission level requirements are defined and translated into detailed subsystem requirements and ensures bilateral requirements traceability. The systems engineer(s) assigned to a project coordinates feasibility, trade-off, and system definition studies, moving beyond the parochial interests of a specific subsystem or science preference to identify the configuration that best meets technical performance requirements within schedule and cost constraints. The systems engineering team also assists in identifying and categorizing risk elements and in developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies. Throughout the program life, Mission and System Safety Assurance is the responsibility of the systems engineer. ATK engineering support includes
- Performance of Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEAs) and Fault Tree Analyses (FTAs)
- Development of system safety documentation
- Preparation of hazard reports, noncompliance reports
- Other direct inputs to the flight and ground safety compliance data packages
Systems Engineering is responsible for establishing a subsystem resources budget for mass, power, fuel, etc., and then tracking compliance with and/or modifying that budget as the design matures. The systems engineer is also responsible for the coordination and execution of all project-wide technical interchange meetings and formal project reviews, such as
- Preliminary Design Reviews
- Critical Design Reviews
- Manufacturing Readiness Reviews
- Test Readiness Reviews
- Pre-Ship Reviews
- Flight Readiness Reviews
- Launch Readiness Reviews
- Operational Readiness Reviews
Systems Engineering is also responsible for performing and/or coordinating development of project documentation, such as Project Plans, System Requirements Documents (SRDs), Interface Requirements Documents (IRDs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs), Specifications, Test Plans and Procedures, Operations Plans and Procedures, and Training Plans. A summary of major Systems Engineering activities is provided in the experience table.
Experience
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| Conceptual Design |
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| Scheduling |
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| Requirements Definition |
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| Requirements Traceability |
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| Discipline Coordination |
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| Trade Studies |
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| Feasibility Studies |
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| Risk Management |
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| I&T |
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| Mass Budget |
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| Power Budget |
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| Review Coordination |
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| Requirement Verification |
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| Systems Safety |
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Tools and Resources
To accomplish these responsibilities, Systems Engineering utilizes industry standard computer software for documents, presentations, and scheduling, as well as COTS or customized spreadsheet and database tools for performing or presenting the results from our analyses. STK is used for mission planning and operations and use RELEX and related tools for probabilistic risk assessment. Additionally, systems engineers utilize and/or coordinate use of extensive in-house subsystem and multidisciplinary tools and staffing resources in Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, Thermal, Optical, GN&C, and Contamination Control to support trade and feasibility studies and analyses.
Contact
space@atk.com
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