Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot Space Systems Engineering Course — the Pilot Lisa Guerra...

Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot

Space Systems Engineering Course — the Pilot

Space Systems Engineering Course — the Pilot

Lisa Guerra Exploration Systems Mission Directorate

NASA Headquarters [email protected]

October 16, 2008

Space Systems Engineering: The Pilot 2

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.


The Pilot Class Students

Space Systems Engineering, Spring 2008Department of Aerospace Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin


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 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.


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.

Course Goal


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.


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.


Sequence of Modules Included in Space Systems Engineering Course

1. What is systems engineering?

2. Teamwork

3. Project life cycle

4. Mission scope and concept of operations

5. System architecture

6. System hierarchy and work breakdown structure

7. Analytical hierarchy process

8. Requirements: development basics; writing; management of

9. Functional analysis

10. System synthesis*

11. Design fundamentals

12. System interfaces*

13. Margins

14. Technical Performance Measures

15. Cost analysis

16. Risk analysis

17. Technology Readiness Levels

18. Trade studies

19. System reliability

20. Validation & Verification

21. Technical reviews

22. Schedule development

23. Systems engineering & management roles/plans

24. Engineering ethics

* New modules; not in pilot


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.


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

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

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)


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:


Additional Course Resources

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

Reference documents:

NASA Systems Engineering Handbook; 2007 & 1995 editions

Defense Acquisition University Systems Engineering Fundamentals; 2001

SMC/AF Systems Engineering Primer & Handbook, 2005

Gentry Lee, JPL


Results from Official UT-Austin Course Evaluation Survey

Background: 21 surveys returned Values were assigned on a 5-point scale

• Most favorable response = 5• Least favorable response = 1

1. Course well-organized 4.7

2. Communicated information effectively 4.6

3. Showed interest in student progress 4.8

4. Student freedom of expression 4.9

5. Course of value to date 4.9

6. Overall course rating 4.7


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.

Class video and guest lecturer enhanced learning and reinforced topics.

The use of lecture briefing notes and not a textbook was an adequate delivery of the material.

Additional materials (such as JWST examples or outside readings) enhanced lecture notes.

Learned new concepts and methods with assignments.

4.3

3.8

4.3

4.5

4.6


ABET Criteria 2000 Outcomes Achieved

Outcome Outcome

a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering

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 life-long learning

d. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams

j. A knowledge of contemporary issues

e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems

k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility

l. Begin list of any other outcomes unique to the program.

This course contributes to the following EC2000 Criterion 3 outcomes.


New Course Features from Summer Update

Space Systems Engineering Course materials reviewed and updated by Paul Graf, University of Colorado-Boulder.

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.


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


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


Questions or Comments? Questions or Comments?


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 UT-Austin (with ASE, EE & ME departments)

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