From Science Goals To Reality: The Role of Systems Engineering

1. JWST Microshutter Array (technology) MLA (planetary) From Science Goals To Reality: The Role of Systems Engineering Carolyn Krebs Associate Director for Science Engineering Code 601 May 3, 2005 WFC3 (Earth- orbiting) IRMOS (ground-based precursor)

2. How does systems engineering relate to science? • A scientist needs a measurement • Some are primarily interested in the data and less interested in how it is obtained • Others have excellent concepts in mind for obtaining the measurement and data, but they are content to leave the implementation thereof to engineers • Still others are highly engaged in all aspects of the measurement from concept through design and final implementation • The systems engineer serves as a translator to enable all three scenarios

3. What does translation mean? • With a science instrument-driven mission, it is rare that nice, tidy requirements will be handed to you with a red bow on top • The job probably hasn’t been done before • The measurement will likely push the edge of what is possible • Technology readiness of some elements is often not mature • If a similar measurement has been done before, a new implementation or extension of the heritage can be as challenging as the first time: need to figure out what transfers and innovate where it doesn’t

4. What does translation mean? (cont’d) • A crucial job of the science systems engineer is to thoroughly understand what the scientist is trying to measure and how • Get involved very early…”glimmer in the eye” stage • Understand the science being performed, how the scientist intends to take the data, how the data will be used, and what the key drivers are • Ask a lot of questions that relate to an eventual implementation • Write the answers down as placeholders for an eventual requirements document/ISAL run • Encourage the scientist to begin defining a Design Reference Mission (DRM) for how the mission and instrument will be operated, as well as the science requirements - will become the touchstones of trade studies and eventual requirements documents

5. What does translation mean? (cont’d) • As the concept matures, the science systems engineer iterates with the scientist and discipline experts to facilitate and define the possible • Informal trade tree sessions are key • Allocation of the largest margins to the riskiest components from the beginning can save a lot of grief later - start “bottoms up!” • Be prepared to work in a sometimes “unstructured” environment and to accept the translator role of facilitating (not demanding) “chaos” into “order” • Respect that not everyone in the external world works to the standard GSFC processes: find a way to accommodate that, when necessary, that is consistent with the intent of the GSFC processes • Respect that not everyone within GSFC works to the GSFC processes the same way: consider your team and the job, thentailor the approach to be consistent with them and the GSFC processes • Respect that many scientists bring excellent engineering talents to the table: include them in • Don’t forget that an instrument flies on a mission: include them in

6. What does translation mean? (cont’d) • Trades involve more than pure engineering • Sometimes engineering has to yield to science imperatives (systems engineer facilitates with disciplines) • Sometimes the scientist has to yield to engineering realities (scientist facilitates with science team) • At some point, a proposal wins, and the more traditional systems engineering processes segue in • The science systems engineer is crucial to that transition • Bullets above continue to apply

7. The role of the new Code 600 Associate Director for Science Engineering function • To provide enabling engineering and technology support to Code 600 for instrument and mission concept development, in partnership with AETD • Performs supervisory and career development function for engineers badged to SED • 100% matrixed to, and co-located with, SED Divisions/Labs/Branches • Coordinates externally matrixed engineering support from AETD • Oversees internal SED engineering processes and practices The engagement of systems engineering is crucial to fulfilling this charter

8. What is being done to enhance science systems engineering? • The “bullpen” • Early engagement of systems engineering has been posited as crucial to sound concept development • The scientists have also expressed a desire to have much earlier access to systems and discipline engineering skills when developing a concept • The ISAL has expressed a desire for more maturity on entering concepts (pre-pre-ISAL) • A “bullpen” concept, providing ready access to a systems-led team of discipline experts at “first light” of an idea, has been proposed to satisfy these mutually complementary desires • Planned embedding of a systems engineer in each science division

9. Really stories are better than viewgraphs… • Questions for the panel members: • Tell one story that you think really illustrates the link between science and systems engineering • If you had one word of advice for systems engineers, what would it be?