Development and Application of the CubeSat System Reference Model

Abstract

The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Space System Working Group (SSWG) has created the CubeSat System Reference Model (CSRM), a representation of the logical architecture of a CubeSat system, intended to be used by system architects and engineers as a starting point as they develop the logical architecture of the Space and Ground components of the CubeSat mission of interest to them. The CSRM is based on Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) principles, is System Modeling Language (SysML) compliant, is hosted in a graphical modeling tool, and is intended to introduce quality enhancements and economies associated with reusability. The CSRM has been vetted by System Engineering professionals and has been introduced to the CubeSat mission development team community with favorable results. It has been submitted to the Object Management Group (OMG) as a CubeSat specification, and is being evaluated for that role. The SSWG has created a notional outline describing how the CSRM can be applied to a specific mission development effort; and has also identified possible future efforts to expand the applicability, value, and use of the CSRM by the satellite development community.