Applying multi-attribute utility analysis to architecture research for the terrestrial observer swarm

As part of research in the Space Systems Policy and Architecture Consortium (SSPARC) at MIT, research is being undertaken to explore processes for conceptual architectures that provide a better basis for procurements. This paper reports on application using top-side sounders to characterize the ionosphere (B-TOS). The task was to develop the architecture for such a mission. In performing that task, multi-attribute utility analysis (MAUA) was integrated to analyze over four thousand different architectures, measuring relative performance. This process moves away from starting with a fixed requirement set to provide data with which to understand the capability drivers and trade level of capability against cost