Preliminary design of a communications spacecraft--GEOCOMM

Abstract

Preliminary design of GEOCOMM is complete, this being just the first of a series of iterations. Based on the findings in the preliminary design, a decision may be made to proceed with full-scale development of GEOCOMM. If full-scale development is desired, each of the steps performed in the preliminary design must be reiterated. Each subsequent iteration results in greater accuracy of design and uncovers additional requirements. Referring back to Figure 1.4, this paper addressed only a portion of the overall flow presented in the figure, just once through the spacecraft hierarchy. Subsystem and spacecraft testing is not covered, but an entire text could be devoted to the subject. The overall goal of the project was to present a limited-scope generic design flow for the development of a communications spacecraft. Actual development effort requires a minimum of 25-40 person-years of effort for even the most limited of spacecraft. Therefore, specific details concerning cost, effort, and detailed design characteristics of the system were omitted in the interest of time.