Abstract:
Architecting Families of Complex Space Systems and Networks
Families of complex space systems and networks are being planned to address the new challenges of space exploration, defense, communications, navigation, Earth observation, and science. In addition, the space communication and navigation infrastructure are challenged to provide information transfer and situational awareness for the operation and management of families of complex space systems. System engineering processes for such systems and networks increasingly demand architecture definition, description and design in its various phases; however, the architecting process and products remain misunderstood, and the normative approaches are still under development. The other key element of this process is the continuous iteration and integration of the requirements, concepts of operation and architecture. As a result, the architecture process and descriptive products for such complex systems are being developed during the program development process. This presentation is designed to demonstrate the architecting approach, methods and practices developed by architecture teams for NASA projects and programs. The presentation will include architecture frameworks and products needed to define, develop, and introduce complex families of space systems and networks. Also described are new approaches to communications and navigation networks required to enable the interoperability needed to satisfy the complex goals and dynamic operations and activities of the space system of systems.
Biography:
Kul B. Bhasin
has been leading a NASA-wide architecture team to develop a NASA Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Program architecture for Constellation Missions. Recently Kul has been working within the SCaN Program at NASA Headquarters as a member of the System Engineering Core Team, which is chartered to develop NASA’s future Space Communication and Navigation architecture. He is also a project manager in the Space Operations Project Office (SOPO) at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kul previously managed the Communications, Computing, Electronics, and Imaging Projects in the Exploration Systems Research and Technology Office. Prior to this he performed similar duties as manager of the Space Communications Project for NASA enterprises. He established and was Chief of the Satellite Networks and Architectures Branch at NASA Glenn. Before joining NASA he was with Gould, Inc. as Manager of Technology. He has recently co-authored a book chapter and several publications related to communication architectures for space system of systems and network of networks. He served on the satellite industry task force to bring satellite into the global information infrastructure, and on the Global Satellite Communication Technology and Systems panel sponsored by NSF/NASA. Among the various NASA awards bestowed upon him, the Medal for Exceptional Service is most notable. Kul is an associate fellow of AIAA, a senior member of IEEE and is a Fellow of the Society of International Optical Engineers (SPIE). He obtained M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Purdue and the Missouri Institute of Science and Technology respectively, and was a NASA Fellow at Cornell University in the department of Electrical and computer engineering.