Analysis of a spacecraft life support system for a Mars mission

Entering the era of the industrial revolution 4.0, there is an increasing need for digital workers. However, based on available data, Indonesia's digital talent is still very lacking and there is a mismatch between the supply of labor and the needs of the industry which has led to an increase in the unemployment rate in Indonesia. This gap must be a concern of educational institutions, especially universities, to provide educational designs that are in accordance with industry needs. Systems analysis and design courses play an important role in the development of digital skills, especially for the System Analyst profession which is much needed at this time. Based on the various skills needed by the company for System Analysts, the relevance of the curriculum analysis and system design courses used in universities in Indonesia will be reviewed. This study uses content analysis methods to analyze information based on system analyst job advertisements and course lesson plans (RPS) for systems analysis and design courses. The data testing method is carried out using a correlation test which shows that there is no relationship between the analysis and system design courses with the needs of systems analyst skills in the industry today. With the Cartesian diagram, it is known that there are two skill categories that need to be prioritized for improvement in the learning plan for the system analysis and design course, namely testing (SIT and UAT) and basic programming.

Abstract—This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of Problem Based Learning (PBL) in a Mechatronics System Design (MSD) course aimed at 3rd year undergraduate engineering students. Integrating PBL into the course curriculum seeks to enhance student's understanding of complex mechatronic systems and their ability to design innovative solutions. The implementation process involved the identification of authentic, real-world problems relevant to mechatronics engineering. The System composer module of MATLAB tool is used to build virtual prototype, integrate, and test the problem. This module helps to follow the V model or VDI2206 guidelines. Throughout the course, students engaged in active problemsolving activities, conducting research, analyzing data, and applying theoretical concepts to develop practical solutions. Faculty members serve as facilitators, guiding students through the problem-solving process while encouraging self-directed learning and collaboration among peers. Assessment methods evaluate the student’s technical competence and ability to work effectively in teams, communicate ideas, and use modern tools. Preliminary results indicate that implementing PBL in the Mechatronics System Design course has led to positive outcomes in student learning and engagement. Surveys and student feedback reveal increased motivation, confidence, and satisfaction with the learning experience. Furthermore, students demonstrate improved problem-solving skills, a deeper understanding of mechatronic principles, and enhanced abilities to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams. Keywords— MATLAB System composer, V model or VDI2206 guidelines, Virtual prototyping

Hardware description languages and tools require a considerable amount of teaching activities in a digital systems design course, which is difficult to accommodate in a limited time frame, and to use for e-learning. This paper presents our user-friendly and open-source web-based digital design tool, SHDL, which is used to describe and simulate hardware components and translate them into a standard language. SHDL is a teaching language and tool for digital design, which aims to improve the teaching and learning experience in digital systems design courses. The use and evaluation of the proposed online teaching model for the Digital Electronic Systems Design (DESD) course, using the SHDL tool for e-learning during the COVID-19 phase, is presented. Using the SHDL language and web tool, we have created many examples of digital circuits that prepare students to explore their own designs. The example components can also be used as digital system modules, leading to better modularity of the final project. The use of SHDL in the DESD course has shown that the proposed language leads to fewer syntax, simulation and synthesis errors in the designed circuits. The evaluation results show that at the end of the laboratory exercises, there was no longer a difference in knowledge between the students without prior VHDL experience and the other students. The results encourage us to continue using SHDL, and to complement the traditional DESD teaching methods with e-learning.

The conceptual design of a hybrid life support system based on the evaluation and comparison of terrestrial testbeds

Background: A critical element of planning human to Mars involves life support systems. The requirements for air, food, water and waste disposal materials in human to Mars total well over 100 metric tons and possibly as much as 200 metric tons. Translated back into an equivalent mass required in low Earth orbit, this figure would increase by at least a factor of seven, depending on mission architecture, requiring at least half a dozen heavy-lift launches solely for life support, and thus driving the cost and complexity of human to Mars beyond any reasonable limit. Recycling and possibly in situ utilization of indigenous Mars water resources are therefore critical enabling capabilities for human to Mars. Previous design reference missions assumed that high-performance life support systems would function flawlessly for the ~ 2.7 year round trip to Mars. However, life support systems developed for the International Space Station do not appear to have the longevity and reliability needed for Mars. As NASA moves forward with the current human exploration initiative, we need some means of estimating the required mass of life support system that goes beyond wild optimistic guesses. NASA's Advanced Life Support (ALS) project has been advancing the technology of recycling of water and air resources in human space for some time. Emphasis has been placed on recovery percentage and trace contaminant removal. Method: Mass estimates for physical plant and back-up caches are provided by NASA. A critical review was carried out based on NASA reports dealing with life support systems and these were judged in the context of design reference missions for humans making the round trip to Mars. Conclusion: ALS estimates of masses of life support systems are based on research and analysis, but the sources of reported performance data are not traceable to experimental data, and the reliability and lifetime of these systems is very uncertain. These estimates are optimistic, and when translated into engineering systems requiring margins, spares and fail-safe performance, are likely to increase significantly. Nevertheless, even these optimistic estimates require a significant initial mass in low Earth orbit, estimated as 210 metric tons. Life support remains at best, a significant mass, cost and risk factor for human to Mars, and at worst a major show stopper.

System analysis and design plays an integral part in the development process, which makes it a mandatory and important topic in software engineering education. However, the diverse design concerns and activities involved in deign process make it a great difficult to deliver system design topic effectively. To enhance the learning process, we utilized the mission guides style teaching in our system design course. Students are required to analyze and design a package delivery application system by using suggested open materials and tools. Positive feedbacks are received on stimulating students’ interest. To explore a more generic education pattern for system analysis and design education, we conducted an empirical study based on the information and reflection collected during course delivery process. Students’ presentation performance, assignment quality, final reflection and professor’s evaluation were summarized and analyzed. In this study, we found that (1) teamwork can stimulate students’ learning interest and passion, making class atmosphere active; (2) scenario-based modeling practice can help students improve the understanding of knowledge more quickly and easily; (3) most students prefer (Sino-English) Bilingual teaching method to gain a more professional education. These results indicate the key factors towards a generic education pattern of system design course. It is also expected to be utilized on better courses preparing.

Modern digital design requires a knowledge of programmable logic devices (PLDs). PLD technology is changing so fast it is difficult to keep up with new PLD architectures and devices. Companies are continually changing their products and buying other companies. It has been difficult to keep up-to-date data books for students to use in design. It is also important to be using PLDs that have not been discontinued. The World Wide Web (WWW) has helped solve the problem in the advanced digital system design course (ECE 487) at Utah State University. Last Fall I noticed that some PLD companies had developed home pages on the WWW. I decided to use the WWW as the major resource for finding information about PLD companies and trends. Up to this point I personally kept current in the field of PLDs and had a large collection of data books. The WWW dramatically changed the class. Students were using it to find all of their information. This paper describes how the WWW was used in the digital design class and the results of how well it worked. It also suggests how it could be used for other courses.

Contribution: This article shares the learning ecosystem of a project-based embedded systems course, identifying course elements that support self-directed learning and how assignments guide students toward becoming adaptive experts. Background: The technology advances while the fundamentals of electrical engineering remain static. Educators can increasingly prepare students to identify what they need to know to solve problems and avail themselves of resources to learn. This article seeks to further understand ways that a project-based learning approach in an undergraduate embedded systems course can facilitate students’ self-directed learning. Research Question: In what ways can a project-based learning approach in an undergraduate embedded systems course facilitates the self-directed learning amongst students? Methodology: This article, conducted in the context of an existing embedded systems design (ESD) course, relied on interviews of students, teaching assistants, and faculty along with document analysis and a mixed inductive–deductive thematic analysis. Findings: A learning ecology of the course is presented. This includes descriptions of space and facilities that influence student motivation, means by which the pedagogical intent of the instructor impacts the student experience, how the course builds on project-based learning knowledge, how the content is distributed using knowledge sharing, how Making supported the ecosystem, how students and instructor occupy similar roles, how the curricular design process was conducted, and how the open ecology promotes student self-direction.

Problem-based learning is a pedagogical approach that allows students to engage with problems assigned to them. It is a platform that enables students to get involved with real world problems while applying concepts rather than being directed with presentations of facts per se. Although the approach is considered as effective, it is not the usual traditional approach used in classes as lecturers act as facilitators guiding the students in finding the problem solutions, instead of giving the solutions. Thus, this study investigates students’ perceptions in implementing problem-based learning approach for their Instructional System Design (ISD) course. 35 students of Applied Language Studies in a public university in Malaysia were purposively selected for the study. This study made use of quantitative approach. In collecting the data, a survey was administered and a set of questionnaires was used as the tool to gather the data. The findings showed that most students found PBL provided positive learning experiences and beneficial for them. This study helps lecturers and university management to get insightful feedback on incorporating PBL in the course currently and in the future.

This study aims to obtain the concrete example design of the learning outcomes based on internalization of synergy between the CHAMPION core values of Universitas Katolik Musi Charitas with KKNI of Ergonomics and Works System Design courses in Industrial Engineering Department. The CHAMPION core values are Charity, Humanity, Altruism, Managing-capacity, Persistence, Integrity, Open-minded, and Novelty. Internalization of CHAMPION core values in semester learning plans for ergonomics courses will provide distinctive features that differentiate them from other universities. The application of ergonomics that is synergized with the CHAMPION core values is very possible to produce the work system design of teaching and learning process that are reviewed systemic, holistic, interdisciplinary and participatory so that it has an impact on effective, confortable, safe, healty, efficient. Based on the research results, impact on learning outcomes; attitudes and values is 29,58%, general skills is14,79%, special skills is 33,80%, dan knowledge mastery is 21,83%. Three great interesting learning methods are; student centered learning is 39,47%, interaction / group discussion is 32,89%, and project based is 27,63%. Learning experience; task is 29%, compile papers is 27%, doing practice is 20%, survey or visit is 16%, and comparative study is 8%. Assesment criteria / rubric; assignment test as courses, projects, portfolios is 35,9%, written test is 30,9%, performance test is 16,9%, observation test is 7%, and participation test is 2,8%. Based on the data above designed a Semester Learning Plan for Work System Design and Ergonomics courses based on CHAMPION core values.

In semester-long courses, the trajectory of students' interest hits multiple highs and lows as the course progresses. In general, sustaining students' interest is a challenge, which becomes even more important when there is a real-world project with an expected deliverable. This study emphasizes investigating how instructors’ strategies help in sustaining students’ interest in instructional system design (ISD) course. The course participants developed a real-world project involving training resources for sensitization about the needs and challenges of persons with disabilities (PwD) in an educational institute. We have analyzed interview data of fifteen students and one instructor, survey data of the same students, and In-class observations by researchers. We have identified instructors’ strategies which were implemented thoughtfully and supported by interest-driven creator (IDC) theory. We have mapped indicators from student responses to the components of the interest cycle i.e. triggering, immersing, and extending. The findings of the study show that course strategies supported by IDC theory played an important role in sustaining the students’ interest throughout the ISD course while ensuring both conceptual learning and project execution.

During the NASA Heavy Lift and Propulsion Systems Analysis and Trade Study, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) was selected to conduct a study defining a new launch vehicle and the propulsion technology that enables NASA to meet the Nation's exploration goals and objectives. One of Orbital's primary objectives of the study was to analyze multiple Heavy Lift System (HLS) architectures and make recommendations of system concepts capable of affordably conducting the NASA Design Reference Missions (DRMs) for LEO, lunar exploration, and Mars exploration. Orbital implemented a goal-driven process to develop optimal, robust HLS architectures. Requirements analysis and functional decomposition initiated the process, in parallel with identifying options for each of the HLS elements. Following the development of driving requirements, various vehicle configurations, technologies, propellants, and components were assessed and assembled into numerous candidate architectures. Each of these architectures was sized to meet the system requirements and then assessed against weighted system attributes to determine the most effective architectures. Orbital conducted a comprehensive architecture study that explored the entire Heavy Lift System trade space. The study relied primarily on quantifiable results for decision making rather than qualitative judgments. In doing so, several top level objectives related to risk, reliability, affordability, and performance were kept at the forefront during trade study execution. The system trade studies and analyses leveraged Orbital’s Integrated Systems Analysis Process, which connects Orbital’s existing suite of analysis tools inside an integrated design environment to apply multidisciplinary design optimization techniques necessary to fully explore the design space.

Engineers at Johnson Space Center (JSC) are developing an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) design for the Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle (MMSEV). The purpose of the MMSEV is to extend the human exploration envelope for Lunar, Near Earth Object (NEO), or Deep Space missions by using pressurized exploration vehicles. The MMSEV, formerly known as the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), employs ground prototype hardware for various systems and tests it in manned and unmanned configurations. Eventually, the system hardware will evolve and become part of a flight vehicle capable of supporting different design reference missions. This paper will discuss the latest MMSEV ECLSS architectures developed for a variety of design reference missions, any work contributed toward the development of the ECLSS design, lessons learned from testing prototype hardware, and the plan to advance the ECLSS toward a flight design.

The ABS (Autonomous Biological System): Spaceflight Results from a Bioregenerative Closed Life Support System

Risk Analysis for Setting Drinking Water Standards for Long-Term Space Missions