This page gives a brief introduction into the conceptual design methodology used by the SSDW.

Let's first take a closer look at the basics of conceptual system design. This will help to understand the contextual problems associated with the conceptual design process:

• Fuzzy mission and system requriements at the beginning of the design project make "clean-cut" solutions impossible
• Mission and system elements are strongly interdependent (network-type problem)
• Most important project decisions are made at the beginning, which then are driving the cost, schedule and risk associated with the mission throughout its lifetime
• Conceptual design results are crucial for "stop/go" decisions

From these basic statements, the requirements for a conceptual design methodology can be deduced. It should:

• Cover analysis, design, simulation and evaluation
• Implement multidisciplinary elements
• Enable a heuristic, non-sequential approach using baseline concepts and interactive iteration techniques
• Provide adapted computer tools to support rapid conceptual design in a coherent environment

These requirements result in the main objectives of the SSDW:

• Allow for conceptual design and optimization studies for space stations and platforms within a few days, performed by a small design team
• Allow for realistic education in systems engineering by providing easy-to-use tools and offering design workshops for hands-on experience
• Support space station utilization with respect to overall system questions and through assessment of experiment specific boundary conditions

One advantage of this approach is that synergisms on the system- and subsystem level can be modeled and thus put to use in the design.