Interactions in space systems design within a Concurrent Engineering facility

Concurrent Engineering (CE) in the space sector is an effective collaborative development approach for space mission architectures or system design. It involves each appropriate discipline and follows a structured process which guides the team through the early phases of the product life-cycle. Furthermore, integrated design models and domain specific tools support the engineers in generating and exchanging design parameters. As is often misunderstood, Concurrent Engineering is not a design optimization performed by advanced software, but is a team effort where the product development is supported by tools but decisions still made by people. During feasibility studies of space craft design within the “Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF)” of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) there is a certain set-up of domains each dealing with their respective hard- and software tools. Within the present paper the cases of human-to-human and human-to-machine interaction during the iterative design process is discussed. The focus is set on the interaction between and within the different parties during both the plenary and off-line design sessions. The importance of guided communication and the value of specific and common tool utilization is pointed out. Furthermore, the challenges, constraints, potential improvements and stumbling blocks are identified when dealing with a heterogeneous team of experts in such early design phases.