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SCaN Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering is a valuable process that is utilized throughout the lifecycle of all research and technology developed activities that Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) develops. Systems engineers are responsible for looking at all of the parts of an individual system and then figuring out how these parts can be interconnected. In short they are looking at the big picture. A system includes all of the parts, people, hardware, software, facilities, policies, and documentation that make up a project lifecycle.

Systems Engineering as Part of the Technology Process

Systems engineers are involved with projects when they are at their earliest Technology Readiness Levels. They assist in making sure that the finished product will be a tool that will help to meet and fulfill SCaN’s goals and objectives. This technology can be adopted and/or used by NASA missions. As the project continues to develop, the systems engineers will become more involved as they provide documentation and support for the project. They will also make sure that the final project can be supported by one of SCaN’s communication networks: the Deep Space Network, the Near Earth Network, and the Space Network.

Architecture Development

The most important task that systems engineers are responsible for within SCaN is overseeing the formulation and execution of the future SCaN network architectures. NASA architecture planning is trying to be consistent and align with international planning. SCaN oversees all communications for the Deep Space Network, the Near Earth Network, and the Space Network. SCaN is working to improve international interoperability and integration into a single unified network.

Phase 3 Studies

Space Based Relay Study

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s (GSFC) Exploration and Space Communications Division, is leading a study on behalf of the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program to identify future space-based relay communication and navigation architectures that will support NASA missions in the 2022 and beyond timeframe.

The future architecture will leverage the significant success that NASA has had over the past 30 years in supporting a wide variety of customers with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system, but the Space Based Relay Study (SBRS) is not bound by prior practice.

The team is charged with thinking outside the box, architecting broadly to reflect future capability in technology and operations, striving for scalable, interoperable, and cost-effective solutions that will meet future user needs. The traditional approach of a monolithic relay built through traditional acquisition processes is only one reference architecture. The team is studying both technological and acquisition scenarios including use of commercial services, hosted payloads, services distributed amongst swarms of smaller satellites, etc. In addition, interoperability with other US civil Government, commercial, and international relay assets, mindful of the current budgetary environment, will be an area of emphasis in the study.

The study is designed to leverage NASA expertise from Goddard Space Flight Center, Glenn Research Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other NASA Centers, as well as, outside subject matter experts from academia and other federal agencies. A blue ribbon panel of experts has been formed to address the needs of the study.

This study team has begun a twelve-month, government-only, intense architecting effort. The kickoff workshop to engage other subject matter experts was held December 18-19, 2012 at GSFC. Additional workshops are planned over the next six months. In 2013, the study team plans to release a Request for Information (RFI) on issues related to future architectures and business models and a Request for Proposal (RFP) to conduct Phase A formulation studies in Fiscal Year 2014. The objective of this study is to think broadly, and to incorporate advanced and emerging technologies, such as optical communications and space internetworking, into the architecture trade space. Additionally, the new NASA Relay Architecture will have to service the needs of users from destinations beyond Earth, as NASA’s Human Space Flight Exploration Program takes shape.

SBRS White Paper

SCaN ADD Executive Summary

The SCaN Integrated Network Architecture Definition Document (ADD) provides a high-level summary description of the new NASA SCaN integrated network architecture. This document provides an executive overview of the driving requirements and the technical architecture. It also explains how the architecture responds to challenging mission and programmatic requirements and the call for new, enhanced communications capabilities.

SCaN ADD Executive Summary, Volume 1, Revision 4, April 7, 2014 (PDF)