Application of Value-Centric Design to Space Architectures: The Case of Fractionated Spacecraft*

TLDR: In this paper, the authors describe a specific application of value-based methods to the design of space architectures, and suggest that a family of architectures which are termed as fractionated, i.e., with mission and support functionality distributed across multiple wirelessly-interacting spacecraft modules flown in cluster orbits, offers a superior value proposition over conventional “monolithic” satellites.

Abstract: Recently, the superiority of value-centric (in contrast to costcentric) design methodologies has been much touted in the literature, including by the present authors. Here, we describe a specific application of value-based methods to the design of space architectures. We suggest that a family of architectures which we term “fractionated,” i.e., with mission and support functionality distributed across multiple wirelessly-interacting spacecraft modules flown in cluster orbits, offers a superior value proposition over conventional “monolithic” satellites. We describe the cost and value drivers that differentiate the potential architectural solutions and provide two notional approaches to quantifying the net value and risk (which we treat as the variance in net value) in a manner that supports performing architectural trades. We conclude with some thoughts on the incorporation of such value-based methods into the existing systems engineering and government procurement processes.