Systems engineering on small satellite projects

An important challenge on small satellite projects lies in the application of systems engineering (SE). A balance is required between the essential discipline which SE can provide and the flexibility, responsiveness and efficiency that are the main strengths of small engineering teams. This paper elucidates the problems faced in applying SE to small satellite projects by analyzing the FedSat project as a case study. While the project was a technical success, the experiences of team members highlight the difficulties involved in applying "big project" SE to a small satellite. The need was identified to distill SE down to its fundamental aspects. These fundamentals will be embedded in a system under development called the Small Satellite Design Tool, consisting of a software environment which will enable team members to manage design and analysis information in a central database through a web interface.