Accomplishments

Spaceflight Systems Engineering Accomplishments

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate SEMP Development

NovaTek principals were part of the core NASA team responsible for the development of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP). The resulting product served as the foundation for planning, direction, and control of system engineering and integration activities across NASA’s Moon / Mars exploration program. The ESMD SEMP captured the management mechanisms required for a system-of-systems development program involving numerous partners, complex system components, and evolutionary spaceflight system development techniques.

Constellation Program System Engineering Process Development

NASA’s Constellation Program is a combination of large and small systems that will provide humans with the capability to travel and explore the solar system. Constellation will include Earth-to-orbit, in-space and surface transportation systems, surface and space-based infrastructures, power generation, communication systems, maintenance and science instrumentation and robotic investigators and assistants. NovaTek has been a key contributor on the Constellation Program Level II System Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Directorate’s system engineering process development team. NovaTek developed and deployed systems engineering and integration processes, procedures, and training, that provides the back-bone of the model-based systems engineering methodology that has been adopted by the Constellation Program. NovaTek was also involved in developing concepts for the systems engineering integrated information management system that will be a critical success factor for linking development organizations located across the US.

Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter (JIMO) Power and Propulsion

NovaTek principals were instrumental in supporting the development of Level 2 Requirements for the Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter (JIMO) using model-based systems engineering techniques. By using model-based techniques, NovaTek principals participated in creating the lower level system and subsystem specifications for the JIMO Propulsion System and the Power, Control and Distribution Segment. These documents represented the draft versions required to meet flight requirements. This work was accomplished as part of the NASA Glenn Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory's participation in the JIMO program.

Flywheel Energy Storage Projects

NovaTek principals provided Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) services to various space flywheel energy storage projects. Flywheels offer many advantages over conventional electrochemical batteries, such as longer life, high reliability, and larger power peaking capabilities. The projects include the Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS), where flywheels were to replace the current nickel hydrogen batteries on the International Space Station (ISS). NovaTek principals developed the system and subsystem specifications, program plans, functional and requirements models, and operational scenarios for the flywheel energy storage project, as well as provided support in developing roadmaps and program plans for flight qualifying flywheel technology as part of a Shuttle Hitchhiker experiment. Through this project, NovaTek principals were able to aid commercialization for future satellites and other space systems.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

As part of the first Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) in the early 1990's, NovaTek principals worked with experts in nuclear thermal propulsion to develop system and subsystem requirements and functional models for Space Nuclear Power Boosters that would power man to Mars. This work was leveraging the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications (NERVA), capturing previous knowledge in systems models, updating to meet the requirements of the SEI and creating system specifications. This work was under the sponsorship of the NASA Lewis (Glenn) Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

International Space Station Electric Power System

NovaTek principals headed the Level II Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) effort for the International Space Station (ISS) Electric Power System (EPS). This involved the analysis and flowdown of Level II requirements to Level III, development of functional models and operational scenarios of the EPS as it related to the integration of other ISS systems and creation of executable failure propagation models. The ISS is currently in orbit and being operated by NASA as a Low Earth Orbit research laboratory. It will be a prominent part of the NASA Exploration Missions to the Moon and Mars.

Manned Lunar Landing Preparation

Since the direction of NASA is focused on Manned Lunar and Mars missions, NovaTek principals are providing systems engineering and integration support in defining and implementing these missions. Pre-phase studies include the evaluation of power and communications technologies; "Systems of Systems," that will be developed not only to support human life on the Moon but also to be extensible to Manned Mars Missions. NovaTek principals helped to develop these trade studies and provide recommendations to NASA HQ and the Glenn Research Center.

Strategic Planning and Space Communications

The NASA Glenn Research Center Space Communications Division called upon NovaTek principals to provide support for their Strategic Planning efforts. This effort provided direction and resource requirements aimed at technology investments to meet government and industry space communications needs. The strategic planning model incorporates many aspects of disciplined systems engineering.