Systems Engineering

The CBSE systems engineering team is a highly experienced team with Systems Engineering and Systems Integration Backgrounds.  Thus, we are a unique organization for space based research. The systems engineering group provides beginning-to-end capabilities that can take a scientific idea or requirement and turn it into reality.  
The systems group provides 2 basic services: 1) Systems Engineering and 2) Systems Integration

Systems

Systems Engineering:
Systems engineering is a key function in our Hardware Development programs. The key responsibilities of this function are to:

  • Coordinate and oversee all technical efforts in a development project so that a system or component may be designed to meet performance, cost and schedule.
  • Integrate all technical inputs from and between each of the project disciplines.
  • Ensure compatibility with all physical and functional interfaces
  • Identify project risks and coordinate/develop risk management protocols.
  • Monitor and status design progress
  • Support project management to resolve any technical issues or problems.

To perform these responsibilities, 5 primary processes are employed:

  1. Flow-down of science and operational requirements into the system and sub-systems levels
  2. Engineering discipline assessments are performed to determine system development feasibility to meet performance and operational requirements and constraints
  3. Preparation of system and subsystem design specifications
  4. Establish system design and development methodology
  5. Optimization of the system design (Performance, Cost and Schedule)

CBSE Projects are developed under a 4-Phase Program. Key Systems Engineering activities for each of these phases are as follows:

  • Phase A - Concept Feasibility:
    The Phase A duration emphasizes identifying system requirements for Science and Operational goals and objectives. Once these requirements are known, a system conceptual design is developed. From this conceptual design all critical technologies are identified and assessed for in-house/outsource feasibility.


    Hardware Concept Testing aboard KC-135

  • Phase B - Prototype Demonstration:
    The Phase B program consists of the flow down of system-level requirements to the subsystem level. Critical technologies are completed and a prototype system is developed and tested against the scientific and operational requirements. The Systems Engineer is heavily involved in preparation of the proposal to develop the final product.


    Experiment Hardware for flight aboard Shuttle/ISS

  • Phase C/D - Hardware Delivery:
    The Phase C/D program emphasizes optimization of the system design. Test plans are developed to verify, validate, demonstrate and certify the systems readiness and adherence to the as-to-agreed specifications.


    • Experiment Hardware for flight aboard Shuttle/ISS

  • Phase E - Utilization:
    The Phase E program emphasizes on customer support and sustaining engineering to the system and/or Project during utilization of the system


    • Experiment Hardware for flight aboard Shuttle/ISS

Systems Integration:
The Systems Integration responsibilities are a broad range of activities that take a completed system or experiment, and fly it in space. As with any Government Agency the system must meet a list of requirements and technical hurdles to show compatibility with the vehicle or facility for which it will be used.

  • Interface:
    The first set of activities deal with the interface in which this equipment will be used. Interface requirements are those key systems our system/experiment will utilize during the planned operational state. Interfaces are usually separated by technical discipline within our organization. These include: 1) Structural-Mechanical, 2) Electrical, 3) Software, 4) Thermal, 5) Human Factors. The CBSE Systems Integration Team is responsible for developing the necessary Interface Control Documentation (ICD) with NASA, or their representatives. This ICD defines applicability and controls all of the planned interfaces that our system will utilize on the vehicle. The CBSE Systems Integration Group has extensive experience with Interface Control Documentation with respect to several different space vehicles. Over the years these include Shuttle, Spacelab, SPACEHAB, ATV and the International Space Station (ISS).

Shuttle
ATV
Station
SPACEHAB
Spacelab
  • Safety:
    The most important activity associated with Systems Integration is Safety. It is defined as "the application of engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques to optimize all aspects of safety within the constraints of operational effectiveness, time and cost throughout all phases of the system life cycle". System Safety is a systematic approach. 1st) Define the system; 2nd) Identify the Hazard; 3rd) Determine corrective action; 4th) Eliminate the Hazard or Control it; 5th) Accept the Risk; 6th) Provide Documentation - Close the Loop. System Safety is separated between those activities that occur on the ground and on-orbit. Detailed safety assessments are performed for both operations. CBSE has an unprecedented track record on System safety. With over 63 experiments flown on 43 different flights, in various vehicles and different processing facilities, no Safety anomalies have occurred.
  • Verification:
    The CBSE verification program shall insure that all items in the system conform to the design, performance, safety and interface requirements as defined in the design specification. The Systems Integration group is responsible for development, coordination and implementation of each of the flight verification programs.
  • Flight Opertaions:
    A new first was achieved with the launch of STS-100. For the first time all of our mission operations are being performed locally at the UAB Remote Payload Operations Control Center in Birmingham Alabama. In the past our Operations team supported mission from either the Johnson Space Center, or the Marshall Space Flight Center. Now with the local Operations Center, technical disciplines and scientific support are readily available to make real time decisions, if required.


    UAB-CBSE Remote Operations Center

 

  • Ground Processing:
    The Systems Integration Group at CBSE is responsible for coordination and execution of all Ground processing activities at the Kennedy Space Center. These responsibilities include identifying and coordinating all resources requirements, activity planning and procedure implementation. Our Systems Integration group is the key interface to all of our experiment operations at KSC.

On-Line Interface Testing in EXPRESS Rack
CBSE Team Performing Preflight Preparations at KSC
  • Ground Facilities:
    One of the most critical activities associated with Space flight is the preparation just prior to launch. Over the past 10 years Systems Integration Group at CBSE has established an excellent working relationship with the NASA and Contractor organizations at KSC. Our group is the responsible for defining all of the facilities that are needed for CBSE payload processing. These facilities include both offline laboratory space for sample preparation as well as online facilities for hardware testing and checkout.
  • System Flight Planning:
    System Flight Planning is performed to define all of the operations and resources required to successfully operate our experiments in orbit. Space flight operations can be a very complex process that requires extensive coordination between Flight Controllers and the experiment operations team. Resource planning is a key function that allows our team to define to the NASA mission planners' activities, vehicle resources, crew resources, time constraints and operational sequences necessary to execute our planned operations. With this information, Flight Controllers have a better understanding of our operations and can reserve the necessary resources to meet these requirements.
  • Crew Training:
    The Systems Integration team is responsible for all crew training. Our crew training provides both an overview as well as a Hands-On familiarization of the experiment and its intended operations. By working and familiarizing with the hardware, the crew has a better understanding of the planned and unplanned operations associated with our experiments.

 

  • System Procedures:
    The Systems group develops operational procedures for all CBSE experiments. Our procedures are separated into three categories for Space Flight. 1) Nominal - These procedures are used for the planned operations of the experiment. 2) Alternate - These procedures are used for contingency operations. In the event that operational requirements change during the flight, these procedures are used to deviate from the preflight plan. 3) Malfunction - These procedures are used to trouble-shoot an unexpected anomaly with the experiment. These procedures can both troubles-shoot the problem and provide corrective action for the crew to perform to recover the system to its nominal operation. The CBSE systems group has extensive experience in development of System procedures that meet the different format requirement for ISS, Shuttle, Spacelab and SPACEHAB.

    • CBSE point of contact: 
    Dan Conner
    Connor@cbse.uab.edu
    205-975-2679 – Birmingham, AL Office
    256-772-0410 – Huntsville, AL  Office

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