Model-based design and verification—State of the art from Galileo constellation down to small university satellites

Since 2001 EADS Astrium GmbH has implemented a model-based system simulation infrastructure for support of spacecraft development, onboard software verification and spacecraft design validation. Corresponding thereto an engineering process has been established, allowing development and full design validation of spacecrafts without necessity of engineering models on spacecraft level. This simulation infrastructure is called “model-based development and verification environment” (MDVE). Major benefit of model-based system development applying MDVE is the early possibility for simulated satellite mission operations, using real onboard software in the virtual satellite, even before availability of real hardware. This represents an outstanding support to system design qualification and performance verification. MDVE technology application, however, is not limited to commercial and large-scale spacecrafts. In a close partnership with Universität Stuttgart, EADS Astrium also sponsored an MDVE installation to the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) for the small-satellite program Flying Laptop, which is the first micro-satellite under development of IRS. This paper presents the span of benefits of model-based engineering with MDVE in application from small satellites up to spacecraft constellations like Galileo. The MDVE hardware and software concepts, typical testbench constellations and satellite design process characteristics are presented with application examples given both from the micro-satellite Flying Laptop as well as from the Galileo program.