Tailored Systems Engineering Processes for Low Cost High Risk Missions

Given the low cost of most cubesat missions, a full implementation of the traditional space systems engineering process to cubesat missions can be detrimental to programmatic success of the cubesat. At the other extreme, cubesat missions often suffer predictable consequences from the omission of standard systems engineering processes such as risk management, configuration management, and quality assurance. In this paper we discuss a scaled systems engineering approach to cubesat missions implemented on a programmatically constrained mission. A discussion of each of the standard systems engineering processes and options for tailoring the processes for a constraint-based mission and how this varies from the typical top-down mission processes. The intent is to inform the decisions of mission developers in determining what level of rigor is appropriate for each process in their unique circumstances and mission needs. Examples of tailoring processes utilized with missions currently underway at the Air Force Research Laboratory\u27s Small Satellite Branch (AFRL/RVEN) are used to illustrate the application of the information presented