Methodologies and Value of using SYSML in a Spacecraft Development Environment

Systems architecting has been evolving for the last several decades. There have been significant advances in systems engineering and development technologies to directly address large, complex systems that present formidable risks and difficulties in their design, construction, deployment and evolution. These advances have focused on the earliest period of design decision-making and evaluation, referred to as the architectural level of system development. The architectural level of systems development consists of making decisions about overall design goals, requirements, structure, and development strategies. Many analysis and development innovations have resulted from this attention to the architectural level. Among these innovations are architecture modeling languages with associated tools and environments; architecture frameworks, model languages, tools; and techniques for architecture analysis, evaluation, and architecture-based reuse. Boeing has capitalized on these advancements by investing in the development of processes and tools. This paper presents a recommended system architecture approach and processes for implementing an architectural modeling framework (i.e. DODAF), language (i.e. SysML), and tool. It will provide a frame of reference within which to address implementation and adoption decisions. To these ends, this project is intended to determine the value of implementing SysML in a spacecraft development environment