Trade Space Specification Tool (TSST) is designed to capture quickly ideas in the early spacecraft and mission architecture design and categorize them into trade space dimensions and options for later analysis. It is implemented as an Eclipse RCP Application, which can be run as a standalone program. Users rapidly create concept items with single clicks on a graphical canvas, and can organize and create linkages between the ideas using drag-and-drop actions within the same graphical view. Various views such as a trade view, rules view, and architecture view are provided to help users to visualize the trade space.
This software can identify, explore, and assess aspects of the mission trade space, as well as capture and organize linkages/dependencies between trade space components. The tool supports a user-in-the-loop preliminary logical examination and filtering of trade space options to help identify which paths in the trade space are feasible (and preferred) and what analyses need to be done later with executable models. This tool provides multiple user views of the trade space to guide the analyst/team to facilitate interpretation and communication of the trade space components and linkages, identify gaps in combining and selecting trade space options, and guide user decision-making for which combinations of architectural options should be pursued for further evaluation.
This software provides an environment to capture mission trade space elements rapidly and assist users for their architecture analysis. This is primarily focused on mission and spacecraft architecture design, rather than general-purpose design application. In addition, it provides more flexibility to create concepts and organize the ideas. The software is developed as an Eclipse plug-in and potentially can be integrated with other Eclipse-based tools.
This work was done by Yeou-Fang Wang, Mitchell Schrock, Chester S. Borden, and Robert C. Moeller of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Dan Broderick at
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Trade Space Specification Tool (TSST) for Rapid Mission Architecture (Version 1.2)
(reference NPO-48158) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document is a Technical Support Package for the Trade Space Specification Tool (TSST) version 1.2, developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It serves as a resource for understanding the tool's capabilities in the context of rapid mission architecture design. The TSST is designed to facilitate the early stages of spacecraft and mission architecture development by enabling users to capture, categorize, and analyze various design options and trade space dimensions.
The TSST allows users to brainstorm and scope key dimensions of mission architecture, such as propulsion options (e.g., chemical propulsion and solar electric propulsion). This initial exploration helps identify feasible combinations of options that can be further analyzed as potential mission concepts. The tool is implemented as an Eclipse RCP application, allowing it to function as a standalone program. Users can create concept items quickly through a graphical interface, utilizing drag-and-drop actions to organize ideas and establish linkages between them.
The TSST provides multiple views, including trade view, rules view, and architecture view, to help users visualize the trade space effectively. It supports collaborative efforts by enabling individuals or teams to document decisions and comments within the tool. Additionally, users can import data from previous trade space studies to expedite the population of components and dependencies. The tool also allows for the export of data in an XML-based format and graphics as images for use in reports and presentations.
The document highlights the successful application of TSST in studies for the 2010 Planetary Science Decadal Survey, showcasing its practical utility in real-world mission planning. It emphasizes the importance of the tool in capturing and manipulating trade space dimensions, options, and supporting information, thereby enhancing the decision-making process in mission architecture design.
Overall, the Technical Support Package provides a comprehensive overview of the TSST's functionalities, its role in facilitating mission concept studies, and its significance in the broader context of aerospace technology development. It underscores NASA's commitment to innovation and collaboration in advancing space exploration initiatives.
