A Systems Engineering Approach to the Design of a Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Testbed

A systems engineering team used an innovative process to develop a new frictionless air bearing satellite simulator, SIMSAT II, for AFIT. AFIT faculty provided the design team with initial requirements, including rotating 30 rpm for spin stabilization and a rapid slewing capability about the yaw axis of +/- 45 degrees in 15 seconds from a standing start to a standing stop. The design team developed the Project Vee process model to meet these requirements by combining key system engineering principles of the original Vee model with project management tenets. The Project Vee model decomposed the requirements to produce a complete system design, guided the procurement of components, and performed validation and verification of the system. The design effort resulted in a three-axis, tabletop spherical air bearing configuration. SIMSAT II incorporates the use of fans as an actuating device for rapid slewing capability, a rigid structure for greater stability, and the capability for longer experimental runs. A modular payload platform allows for numerous types of experiments to be conducted onboard the system. SIMSAT II provides AFIT with a new simulator for spacecraft dynamics and control, with both educational and research experimentation possibilities.