Innovative Modeling Techniques for End-To-End Simulations of Spacecraft Sensor Systems

Integrated, modular, and easy to use digital simulations of the end- to-end performance of spacecraft sensors, structures, and supporting subsystems can provide powerful insights into many systems. This includes surveillance satellites and related spacecraft weapon and remote sensing systems. Such simulations can support a wide range of functional capabilities in the design, development, and operational life cycle of such spacecraft. Traditional approaches to end-to-end system modeling have produced very large computer programs not conducive to interactive usage. The rapidly evolving capabilities of computer workstations, new system programming environments, and advanced graphics and user interfaces, however, provide a new capacity to integrate hitherto separate computer models operating in different environments into interactive high fidelity system simulations. This project will develop a design and proof-of-concept kernel for an end-to-end simulation of the critical elements of a space-based passive sensor system by applying these new workstation tools and software development techniques. This design will be an initial step in providng an integrated set of spacecraft/sensor system engineering and analysis tools.