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Abstract:
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The traditional process of space systems development encompasses the conception, design, and integration of both the space segment and the ground segment for each mission, following a document-centric approach. In the current space projects context, the growing number of missions and the prevailing assumption that the ground segment is a "Ready-to-Run System" present significant mission challenges. A critical issue arises from the insufficient consideration of ground segment complexities during the early phases of mission planning. Additional difficulties include the limited capacity to evaluate existing solutions and the absence of a comprehensive perspective on ground system architectures. These shortcomings often result in inefficiencies and constraints during subsequent stages of development. To address these challenges, this study introduces the Framework for the Development of Space Missions Ground Segment Architectures (F4GSA), which provides a structured methodology to improving system architecture design, enhancing interoperability, and streamline the integration of ground segment components. In essence, the framework is inspired on three principal sources: (i) the generic process descriptions and activities broadly applicable across diverse domains, as outlined in the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, (ii) the System Design Processes established by NASA, and (iii) the activities proposed by ARChitecture Analysis and Design Integrated Approach (ARCADIA) to support the design issues. The F4GSA incorporates Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodology, underscoring its significance and evolution in the space sector, to provide a holistic perspective on ground segment solutions, meeting the demands of single-mission and multi-mission architectures. This model-based approach improves architectural consistency, interoperability, and integration across ground segment components. The practical benefits of the framework are demonstrated through a case study of a real mission – the ground segment of the BiomeSat Mission by National Institute for Space Research (INPE), a Brazilian remote sensing satellite to support planning, monitoring and control of the health of Brazilian biomes - Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal and Pampa. The mission also contributes to the evaluation of degraded and deforested regions. BiomeSat is distinguished by its capacity to collect radiometric data in the visible and near-infrared spectral bands, influenced respectively by chlorophyll pigments and the cellular structure of leaf surfaces. The space mission architecture comprises a small satellite, a dedicated camera for primary objective, an Environmental Data Collector (EDC) payload for receiving data from Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) distributed nationwide, and a system dedicated to Automatic Identification of Vessels (AIS) along the Brazilian coastline and major rivers. This case study illustrates how F4GSA, in conjunction with MBSE, facilitates the balance between reuse, necessary adaptations, and flexibility, thereby supporting both single-mission and multi-mission ground segments in an evolving space ecosystem. The findings emphasize the importance of leveraging existing solutions while incorporating required adaptations, all while maintaining flexibility and dynamism in the construction of mission development models. |
