MSS Mission Areas
Mission Area I: Model-Based Engineering
Model-Based System Engineering encompasses the development of methodologies, codes, and model simulations to quantitatively evaluate and optimize propulsion technologies across propulsion component, propulsion system, and vehicle system levels. The use of models complements traditional experiment during technology development with a goal of reducing technology development time and schedule, as well as use physics-based models to explore domains and behaviors that are particularly difficult or impossible to examine experimentally. Publications in this area typically fall under two MBSE topic headings: Modeling Methodologies/Approaches and System Analysis Results. Examples of topics of interest for the MBSE mission area include the following:
- Modeling Methods/Approaches
- Proposed performance/loss models for rotating detonation rocket engines analogous to JANNAF standard for constant pressure liquid rocket engines
- Accommodating multidisciplinary modeling at multiple simultaneous levels of fidelity
- Engineering decision support. Optimization, scheduling, and knowledge-based tools—integration into the engineering process.
- Advances in the development of models and methods for component modeling and simulations to aid propulsion design
- Improvements in commercial software which enable advanced MBSE
- Challenges/Boosts to using MBSE under a more commercial/less centralized propulsion technology development paradigm and shifts from horizontal to vertical integration in the launch industry
- System Analysis Results
- M&S of vehicle system technology trades for space launch systems, prompt strike platforms, long-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic cruise vehicles
- Simulations, methods, and models to evaluate performance capabilities, cost, and reliability of systems
- Vehicle and launch facility, weapon and weapon platform, propulsion system and test facility simulations, interactions, integration
Mission Area II: Integrated Health Management
Integrated Health Management promotes advancement and development of industry practices for IHM of propulsion systems within a “system of systems” environment. IHM includes methods and tools for: data management and mining; integrated command and control; sensors; diagnostics;and prognostics. These tools enable making redline and contingency decisions using knowledge-based expert systems, model-based diagnostic and reasoning, fault models, neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic and evolutionary algorithms, and life-cycle analysis.
Data Management and Mining: Advances in data mining, machine learning, and statistics with applications to verification and validation of data, prognosis and diagnosis of system health.
Integrated Communications, Command and Control: theory, test beds, and demonstrations.
Sensor Systems: measurement technology, smart sensors, test beds, sensor fidelity
Diagnostic Systems: theory, simulations, and demonstrations of diagnosis of current state of health of propulsion and vehicle system.
Prognostic Systems: theory, simulations, and demonstrations of prognosis of future state of health of propulsion and vehicle system; mitigation of, and recovery from, degraded system health to enable successful missions
Mission Area III: Simulation Credibility: Uncertainty, Verification, Validation, and Risk
The credibility of digital and analog simulations is a major issue for incorporating simulation tools and data into a technology-development program, for conducting simulation-based acquisition, for assessing system reliability to assure human safety and/or mission success, and for identifying and assessing risks in complex, technological systems. Simulation credibility includes assessment and management of computer simulation uncertainty, sensitivity-uncertainty analysis, experimental uncertainty, modeling uncertainty, verification and validation (V and V) of simulation models and of simulations, and risk assessment. Abstracts are solicited on unusual or specific solutions, on novel approaches, and on technological advances.
- Uncertainty assessment, sensitivity analysis, quantification, for experiments and simulations
- Validation of models and verification of simulations
- Propagation of uncertainty
- Communication, management of uncertainty, risk assessment and management
- Recommendations for guidelines, procedures, or standards.
Mission Area IV: Modeling and Simulation of System Autonomy
Modeling and Simulation of System Autonomy encompasses the development of methodologies, codes, and models, and simulations to evaluate, analyze, and optimize autonomous system capabilities. System autonomy addresses the modeling and simulation of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, the integration of AI algorithms, simulation environments including the interaction of algorithms with system hardware, verification and validation of non-deterministic algorithms, and determination of operational bounds. The use of modeling and simulations of autonomous systems to determine their responses and operational bounds is also a crucial technology area. Various autonomous systems are included in this mission area including aircraft, ground vehicles, hypersonic vehicles, launch vehicles, spacecraft, and water craft