An Overview of MBSE in ESA Missions

Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) provides a powerful digital framework for representing complex systems. Improvements in both time and cost can be achieved by placing digital models at the centre of the engineering process, providing a common understanding of the system engineering design, and thus reducing inefficiencies and mistakes due to inconsistent information in disjointed documentation.

Information that is traditionally captured and exchanged in the form of documents and Excel tables is instead expressed as a set of data-driven, rigorously structured models. A model-centric approach to data and information management provides an unambiguous authoritative source of truth, based on a common language and digital approach. Data models are used to create a digital representation of the different mission elements, subsystems and equipment of the space system, including their interdisciplinary relationships. This is used to manage the growing complexity of the system design and development, while maintaining the traceability, consistency, and optimisation of the mission architecture – retaining system knowledge, by capturing decisions and design trends. 

Several ESA missions have now embraced MBSE, adopting a digital engineering approach throughout the mission specific system life cycle, technical disciplines, and supply chain. Selected examples are given to highlight how ESA missions are using MBSE at mission or system level, and throughout the different implementation phases (covering phase 0 – phase C/D).