Support by appropriate software programs is indispensable for a rapid and efficient conceptual design process, allowing for intuitive development and iterative assessment of the space mission design.

The tools used for the SSDW consist of custom-developed software dedicated to space mission conceptual design and simulation (design tools) as well as commercially-available, general-purpose software (support tools).

Multidisciplinary design puts a strong emphasis on team interaction, thus the formalized use of specific communications tools is neccessary.

The image below is an overview of the SSDW design context and of the tools used therein. A short description of these tools is given below.

  Design Tools

Human space mission conceptual design requires several steps as outlined on the "Methodology" page.

The design tools presented here support the following individual conceptual design tasks:

• Systems engineering database and design process control: MPDB
• Space segment configuration design and layout: COMET
• Surface segment configuration design and environment simulation: MOONBASE
• Orbit, attitude and environment simulation: IRIS++
• Synergistic simulation and analysis of linked subsystems: ELISSA
• Communications link design and analysis: STK

Mission Parameter Database (MPDB)

The Mission Parameter Database (MPDB) is an approach to facilitating the complex conceptual design process as well as the system analysis. As a top-level systems engineering tool it integrates subsystems and their interdependencies thus, accounting for all critical subsystem parameters required for the preliminary design phase. Its modelling capabilities include subsystem parameters, interdependencies, and synergisms as well as design progress and maturity.

The MPDB expedites documentation and communication among subsystem engineers. It supports the systems engineers in designing the subsystems by implementing changes made to one subsystem and notifying all other subsystems affected by the change. Therefore, the MPDB accelerates the iteration and thus, the design process.



For more information about MPDB please contact Ms. A. Zimmer (email).

COMET

COMET stands for "Configuration Modeling and Editing Tool". It is a proprietary add-on to the commercially available 3D graphics software Cinema4D (by Maxon GmbH) that was developed to model and edit space station modules and configurations. It provides an intuitive user interface and a convenient export filter to save space station configurations that were modeled as IRIS++ compatible model files. This enables quick-turnaround orbit simulations.

COMET is object-oriented software and has just recently been ported to C++ and to the new Cinema4D releases 9.5 and 10. It uses three types of object classes (Spacecraft, Module and Primitive) which are ordered hierarchically: Primitives make up modules and modules make up a space station. Every object and its sub-objects can be written separately to an object library, in which pre-defined modules are also readily accessible. Current work includes advanced visualisation features as well as modelling of lunar surface infrastructure elements to further complete COMET for space exploration mission modelling and design..

The following screenshot gives an impression of the COMET user interface:



For more information about COMET please contact Mr. J. Schlutz (email).

MOONBASE

... to be written ...



For more information about MOONBASE please contact Mr. J. Schlutz (email).

IRIS++

IRIS++ is a simulation package for the analysis of orbital systems. It includes dynamic simulation of a space station orbit and attitude.

Inputs are the geometry and mass distribution of the spacecraft or platform, which is generated by the graphical model editor COMET, and the simulation/mission commands. Features are:

• Attitude Dynamics:
  • Numerical integration of 6D-Euler equations of motion
  • Pertubations: gravity gradient and aerodynamic torques
  • Attitude control using actuators: momentum wheels, thrusters
  • Solar tracking of solar panels and radiators
• Orbit Dynamics:
  • Osculating elements using equinoctical and cartesian orbit parameters
  • Perturbation models: gravity field (up to 5th degree), atmosphere, arbitrary forces
  • Orbit control using permanent or impulsive thrusters
• Including environmental models (esp. gravity, atmosphere) of following celestial bodies:
  • Earth
  • Moon
  • Mars
• Energy Budget:
  • Photovoltaic and solar dynamic systems
  • Simulation of orbital influences (tracking, eclipse)
• Microgravity level calculation
• VRML output file containing a three-dimensional snap-shot of the spacecraft under analysis

For more information about IRIS++ please contact Ms. A. Zimmer (email).

ELISSA

ELISSA stands for "Environment for Life-Support Systems Simulation and Analysis". It is a support tool for the design of subsystems. A powerful, intuitive graphical user interface provides convenient simulation features and easy customization and extension.

The environment is based on the commercially available software "LabVIEW", which provides the graphical programming language "G".

Predefined component libraries exist for the life support system as well as for the power supply and attitude/orbit control subsystems.

Using drag-and-drop techniques, the user models the subsystem to be analyzed before starting simulation runs, as depicted below. Interactive simulation control allows analysis of dynamic problems, or real-time operator training.



For more information about ELISSA contact Ms. Britta Ganzer (email).

STK

STK, or Satellite Toolkit, is a graphical, object-oriented software for satellite and space station orbital and sensor coverage analysis. For first-hand information about the software, see the STK website.

Analytical Graphics, Inc., the creators of STK, distribute the standard version of their product free of charge. A free CD-ROM can be requested on their website.

  Support Tools

Most SSDW design tools are based on some commercially available software. This page offers brief descriptions of the products used, as well as links to websites with more product information if available.

Cinema 4D

Provided by the German software company Maxon, this intuitive 3D modeling, rendering and animation software supports space station configuration and module modeling and editing via the SSDW COMET plugin. It also provides convenient and impressive features for the visualization of results.

LabVIEW

Developed by National Instruments as a tool for data acquisition and measurement automation, LabVIEW is used here as a powerful graphical programming environment (in ELISSA), with optional hardware-in-the-loop capability. For more information, see the LabVIEW website.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft's spreadsheet application is used within workshops and research projects for quick budgeting, estimations, accounting, generation of system balances, and graphing of simulation results.

Mozilla Firefox

This web browser is used for information gathering during the workshops, as well as for visualization of VRML output (using the CosmoPlayer plugin or the Cortona VRML client).

  Communications Tools

Internal and external SSDW communications make use of commercially available software.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft's widely used text processing software supports SSDW staff for organizational tasks and the writing of reports.

Microsoft PowerPoint

This classic presentation software is used by design teams and SSDW staff alike to support lectures, communication within the design teams, and presentation of design results.

CorelDraw

For illustrations on the SSDW website as well as in the "Space Stations" book and workshop lectures, the CorelDraw graphics software package is used.

Adobe FrameMaker & Adobe Acrobat

For the "Space Stations" book, FrameMaker Version 5.5 was used. Additionally, PDF files (see the Publications page) are created using the PDF utilities from Adobe Systems, inc.