1. Space Systems Engineering Course — the Pilot
Lisa Guerra Exploration Systems Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters
October 16, 2008

2. Systems Engineering at UT-Austin
Motivation:
The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) is responding to the NASA Administrator's call to develop systems engineers for NASA's exploration future.
Response:
Under the sponsorship of the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD), UT-Austin invited Ms. Lisa Guerra to help create a systems engineering program within aerospace engineering to be responsive to the post-2010 needs of ESMD and the Constellation Program.
The intent is for the course to be a pilot, transferable to other universities operating within NASA's Space Grant Consortia.

3. The Pilot Class Students
Since this course was developed for aerospace engineers, that discipline term is used here. You can replace with other discipline or simply with undergraduate engineers.
The intent here is to emphasize that every engineer will most likely encounter some aspect of systems engineering in their careers, even though they never aspire to be labeled a systems engineer.
Space Systems Engineering, Spring 2008
Department of Aerospace Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin

4. Quotes from Students in Pilot Class
“It was a ‘big picture’ view of what we may be involved in as engineers of the future.”
“I liked how so many of the assignments asked us to evaluate the decisions made by NASA employees from the past. It made the homework so much more fun because it’s as if we were the NASA employees making those same important decisions.”
“It made us think about problems beyond the right answer and the gray area behind all decisions.”
“It is the real-world application that makes the course attractive.”
“Taking this course makes an engineer realize there is much more to engineering than designing a given component to a set specification.This course really teaches all the factors that go into producing a viable space system, and some tools to achieve that end.”
“The Q&A during lecture was often the most insightful because of the different perspectives on the topic. It was so valuable to allow the class to interact.”
“It’s the glue!”
Excellent course. The material was very robust for a pilot course.

5. Space Systems Engineering Course — The Pilot
Taught in the Spring 2008 semester to 21 hand-selected students (with GPAs>3.0) in the UT-Austin Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Student level of experience:
From both junior and senior level
Some had completed the senior capstone design course the previous semester
Variety of work experience: government and industry co-ops; student satellite build projects
Added participation feature:
The teaching assistant, John Christian, just completed a MS degree in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech with an emphasis on System Design and Optimization.
One of the students was the lead systems engineer for the Texas2Step satellite build project (sponsored by AFRL).
The capstone design professor, Dr. Wallace Fowler, audited the entire course.

6. Course Goal
Not trying to make everyone who takes the course a systems engineer, but trying to give aerospace engineering students a systems perspective as they approach their capstone design project.
Since this course was developed for aerospace engineers, that discipline term is used here. You can replace with other discipline or simply with undergraduate engineers.
The intent here is to emphasize that every engineer will most likely encounter some aspect of systems engineering in their careers, even though they never aspire to be labeled a systems engineer.

7. Perspective on the Space Systems Engineering Course
What is course based on?
Systems engineering handbooks and primers from NASA and DoD
Variety of professional training materials on systems engineering
NASA missions, experience base and documents to provide examples for systems engineering topics, including my own experiences
My observations of 2 senior design classes and 1 graduate design class
No particular systems engineering textbook affiliated with course
What perspective?
The aerospace perspective — what does it take to put a space system together
Practical not theoretical — use of concrete examples
Tools oriented, e.g., cost models, analytical hierarchy process, FMEA
Who is course designed for?
Serves as prerequisite (junior year) to a senior aerospace design class
Could also offer to seniors, as well as other engineering discipline students
Currently working with EE and ME departments for a Master’s level version.

8. Perspective on the Space Systems Engineering Course
What competencies are emphasized?
Obtain a working knowledge of systems engineering concepts
Execute certain systems engineering tools
Improve techniques for communicating and critiquing products
Be prepared to execute a student design project.
How is the course structured?
Structured in a modular fashion, such that
Module topics can be inserted into existing courses
Modules can be re-ordered according to teaching preference
Modules can be added or deleted based on topic interest
Module lengths vary — some may take 2 class lectures to complete the content.
Modules contain notes pages and backup slides for additional content or further explanation.
Example Syllabus (Pilot_SE_Course_Syllabus_2008.doc) and Schedule (Pilot_SE_Course_Schedule_2008.xls) are provided with this course overview lecture file.
These are the syllabus and schedule used for the pilot class, Space Systems Engineering, taught at UT-Austin in Spring 2008.
They provide an example of the sequence of work, the use of class time, and the approach to grading.

9. Sequence of Modules Included in Space Systems Engineering Course
What is systems engineering?
Teamwork
Project life cycle
Mission scope and concept of operations
System architecture
System hierarchy and work breakdown structure
Analytical hierarchy process
Requirements: development basics; writing; management of
Functional analysis
System synthesis*
Design fundamentals
System interfaces*
Margins
Technical Performance Measures
Cost analysis
Risk analysis
Technology Readiness Levels
Trade studies
System reliability
Validation & Verification
Technical reviews
Schedule development
Systems engineering & management roles/plans
Engineering ethics
Attributes of a good systems engineer
Case studies; special reading assignments
* New modules; not in pilot

10. Additional Topics in Pilot but not Included in Distributed Materials
Probability & Statistics Primer
Professor from Operations Research department guest lectured
Aerospace engineering students not required to take in undergraduate course sequence
Monte Carlo Analysis
One of the assignments applied the technique.
Tutorial provided to understand how to use and program in Matlab.
Modeling and Simulation
In future semesters, will be addressed as part of the new 1 hour Spacecraft Systems Modeling Lab.
This lab will be a co-requisite to the Space Systems Engineering course.

11. Course Special Feature
Pause and Learn Opportunity
Use of project examples, particularly the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
Requirements documents
Technology story
Technical performance measures
Work breakdown structure
Concept of Operations
Associated and current readings related to systems engineering, examples:
NY Times article, 2007
M. Griffin SE speech at Purdue, 2007
M. Griffin architecture lecture, 2008
Crosslink cost article, 2001
NASA ASK management article, 2007
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

12. Student Assignments from the Pilot Course
Homework assignments
Group and Individual
Writing and problem-solving/programming
One assignment per week
Periodic group presentations
Exams
Mid-term (1 hour); in-class
Final (3 hours allotted, but took 2 hours); in-class
Semester-long assignment
Select a book from the suggested reading list
Write a 10 page paper discussing the book and its relevancy to the systems engineering learning.
Samples from the list:

13. Additional Course Resources
Reference documents:
NASA Systems Engineering Handbook; & 1995 editions
Defense Acquisition University Systems Engineering Fundamentals; 2001
SMC/AF Systems Engineering Primer & Handbook, 2005
DVDs for student viewing:
So You Want to be a Systems Engineer? Personal Behaviors of a Systems Engineer – 53 mins.; 2005
Systems Engineering – When the Canvas is Blank – 45 mins.; 2007
Gentry Lee, JPL

14. Results from Official UT-Austin Course Evaluation Survey
Background:
21 surveys returned
Values were assigned on a 5-point scale
Most favorable response = 5
Least favorable response = 1
Course well-organized 4.7
Communicated information effectively 4.6
Showed interest in student progress 4.8
Student freedom of expression 4.9
Course of value to date 4.9
Overall course rating 4.7

15. Student Evaluation of Class Structure (from unofficial survey)
Scoring:
(1) strongly disagree; (2) disagree; (3) no opinion/neutral; (4) agree; (5) strongly agree
Use of class interaction and Q&A with the professor was at the right level.
Class video and guest lecturer enhanced learning and reinforced topics.
The use of lecture briefing notes and not a textbook was an adequate delivery of the material.
Additional materials (such as JWST examples or outside readings) enhanced lecture notes.
Learned new concepts and methods with assignments.
4.3
3.8
4.5
4.6

16. ABET Criteria 2000 Outcomes Achieved
This course contributes to the following EC2000 Criterion 3 outcomes.
Outcome
a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering 
g. An ability to communicate effectively
b. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
h. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context
c. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
i. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning
d. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
j. A knowledge of contemporary issues
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
l. Begin list of any other outcomes unique to the program.
ABET CRITERIA 2000 OUTCOMES ACHIEVED: This course contributes to the following EC2000 Criterion 3 outcomes and those specific to the EAC accredited _ program

17. New Course Features from Summer Update
Space Systems Engineering Course materials reviewed and updated by Paul Graf, University of Colorado-Boulder.
Added new modules to focus on System Synthesis, System Architecture, and Interfaces.
Provided updates to existing pilot modules. (& sanity check)
Provided additional space mission examples.
Provided more articles for reading assignments.
Suggested alternative semester-long project using mission failure reports.

18. Potential Topics to Include in Future Versions
Software design and development
Acquisition Strategy
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Specialty engineering:
Human Factors,
Maintainability,
Logistics support, etc.
Topic ideas from students in pilot class:
Quality methodologies, e.g., six sigma, ISO-9000
Team staffing and retention
Use of “best practices” and benchmarking
Communication skills
Legal issues

19. Charge to Workshop Audience
Today, version 1.0
Welcome exchange of ideas
Leveraging the resources of academic community to share material to make this better
Lessons learned in teaching this material
New module development and inclusion in later versions

20. Questions or Comments?

21. L. Guerra’s Planned Efforts for 2009-2010
Develop website to continue dissemination of systems engineering curriculum
Allow for publication of updates
Enable sharing of improvements and lessons learned from faculty using the materials
Enable faculty grants to improve course materials
Enhance communication on systems engineering
Participate at the ASEE National Conference (2009 in Austin) Presentation/workshop on NASA’s systems engineering activities
Develop graduate-level course based on undergraduate Space Systems Engineering course
Initiate a Master’s degree program in Systems Design at UT- Austin (with ASE, EE & ME departments)