Title:
Exploring the F6 Fractionated Spacecraft
Trade Space with GT-FAST
Exploring the F6 Fractionated Spacecraft
Trade Space with GT-FAST
Author(s)
Lafleur, Jarret M.
Advisor(s)
Saleh, Joseph H.
Editor(s)
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Abstract
Released in July 2007, the Broad Agency Announcement for DARPA’s System F6
outlined goals for flight demonstration of an architecture in which the functionality of a
traditional monolithic satellite is fulfilled with a fractionated cluster of free-flying, wirelessly
interconnected modules. Given the large number of possible architectural options, two
challenges facing systems analysis of F6 are (1) the ability to enumerate the many potential
candidate fractionated architectures and (2) the ability to analyze and quantify the cost and
benefits of each architecture. This paper applies the recently developed Georgia Tech F6
Architecture Synthesis Tool (GT-FAST) to the exploration of the System F6 trade space.
GT-FAST is described in detail, after which a combinatorial analysis of the architectural
trade space is presented to provide a theoretical contribution applicable to future analyses
clearly showing the explosion of the trade space as the number of fractionatable components
increases. Several output metrics of interest are defined, and Pareto fronts are used to
visualize the trade space. The first set of these Pareto fronts allows direct visualization of
one output against another, and the second set presents cost plotted against a Technique for
Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) score aggregating performance
objectives. These techniques allow for the identification of a handful of Pareto-optimal
designs from an original pool of over 3,000 potential designs. Conclusions are drawn on
salient features of the resulting Pareto fronts, important competing objectives which have
been captured, and the potential suitability of a particularly interesting design designated
PF0248. A variety of potential avenues for future work are also identified.
Sponsor
Date Issued
2009-11-12
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Masters Project
Rights Statement
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