Space Systems Architecting using Meta-Languages

Paper number

IAC-05-D1.P.03

Author

Mr. Willard L. Simmons, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Prof. Edward Crawley, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Year

2005

Abstract

In the early stages of a complex system design it is ideal if all available options can be considered exhaustively and efficiently before critical design decisions are made.   In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to provide the space system architect with the information needed to make design decisions.   We introduce Object Process Network (OPN), a meta-language that can simultaneously generate, evaluate and filter the space of all possible configurations of a system. We demonstrate this new method with two case studies.  The first is historical; we re-examine the famous Apollo Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) decision of the early 1960’s.  The second is a current architecture study; we show how OPN was used to enumerate and rank 1162 feasible models of human Earth-to-Moon and Earth-to-Mars transportation architectures for NASA’s Space Exploration Initiative.
  
Meta-Languages, which were formally used mostly in theoretical computer science research, are languages that can be used to automate model construction.  Meta-Languages provide the system architect with an executable language to describe and enumerate the design space.  This generic enumeration can be used instead of the traditional method of examining point designs and drawing general conclusions.    Although many good decisions have been made in the past with the traditional approach, using a meta-language will enhance the architect’s ability to organize and quickly evaluate design options. It will allow him or her to reach better conclusions with more confidence that all avenues have been explored.  It allows the architect to categorize and narrow down the design space to families of architectures, enabling a more complete understanding of the impacts of his or her decisions.

The Apollo design case study demonstrates (in hindsight) that the NASA team made a good decision.  We demonstrate how OPN model rapidly generates relevant information about the Apollo design space.   The Moon-Mars Exploration case study demonstrates that it is possible to generically model the complex interactions of space vehicles required for inter-planetary travel.  The results of this case study were used to enable an extensive trade study of the possible Moon-Mars transportation architectures.

Abstract document

IAC-05-D1.P.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-D1.P.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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