Integrating Model-Based Systems Engineering and Fault Management for Autonomous Space Missions

• NASA is developing tools to integrate Fault Management (FM) directly into the Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) process for autonomous space missions.
• The initiative uses Qualtech Systems Inc. (QSI) TEAMS® software to bridge the gap between system design and failure mitigation.
• A successful demonstration was conducted using the HelioSwarm heliophysics mission as a case study.
• This approach aims to reduce development costs, risks, and schedules by evaluating system resilience during the design phase.

The Need for Integrated Autonomy

• Future missions like Artemis and deep-space science require robust autonomy, as ground-based human intervention is not feasible for immediate fault mitigation.
• Traditionally, FM is treated as an afterthought rather than a core design component, often leading to disconnected knowledge repositories and inefficient "bandage" solutions.
• By integrating System Health Management (SHM) and FM into the early design phase, NASA ensures that systems are fault-tolerant by architecture.

Methodology: SysML v2 Integration

• QSI worked with the SysML v2 Submission Team to incorporate FM concepts into the SysML v2 modeling standard.
• The toolset translates SysML v2 design models into failure space models, allowing engineers to perform:
  • Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analyses (FMECAs).
  • Fault Tree Analyses (FTAs).
• The software provides actionable design recommendations, such as optimal sensor placement, which are formatted into standardized reports for implementation.

HelioSwarm Demonstration

• HelioSwarm consists of a hub spacecraft and eight small satellites, designed to study plasma turbulence in the Sun-Earth system.
• The QSI team modeled key subsystems, including power, communication, propulsion, and attitude control.
• The demonstration successfully validated the automated generation of FMECAs and FTAs from mission requirements, proving the framework's effectiveness for complex multi-satellite swarms.

Broader Applications

• The technology has been baselined for NASA’s Gateway project and remains applicable to future human-rated spacecraft.
• Beyond space, the methodology offers potential benefits for high-value complex systems, including:
  • Military hardware (aircraft, submarines, ground-fighting vehicles).
  • Commercial aviation and maritime systems.
  • Power generation and distribution equipment.