Description:
The “project”, unit 21.3 of the Master Space & Application aims at training the students to the first phases of definition of a space project. It largely focusses on the scientific payload, while other units focus on the operations or on the platform. It aims at introducing students to the various phases of a space project (or of any important project for ground-based observation in astronomy), starting from the definition of a mission, up to its achievement and retirement.
First, general indications are provided, for introducing relevant concepts as functional analysis, quality, or system approach
Then, a case study is detailed for training. It provides a support for introducing methodological tools. This case study corresponds to a phase 0/A study. A scientific case is defined with a few scientific specifications. A design is then proposed, which must account for the complexity of the system and obeys the different constraints. A preliminary definition is proposed, for providing relevant sizing.
The warm-up exercises helps introducing the projects, in a brainstorming modes. Students have to imagine significant issues to be analyzed for addressing a given scientific problem. No precise answer is expected (there is not enough time for this), but relevant questions to be solved for answering the problem.
In practice, the project 21.3 consists in the following steps:
– Bibliographical research
– Interactions with scientists and engineers
– Fine understanding of the system
– Identification of key issues
– Detailed study of a given subsystem
- Sizing
The schedule of unit 21.3 is composed of:
- 20 hr (1 week) for the presentation of the module, a case study, "warm-up" exercises
- 40 hr (spread over 2-3 months) for the project; on-line support is proposed for providing guidance and help during this part
The mark for unit 21.3 relies on the examination of three versions of a report
- a short report is scheduled at mid-term of the project
- the final version of the report is examined in two steps: the first version of the final report is commented; the revised version of the report is finally examined
The mark is based on the first version of the report; a bonus (limited to 3 points) may reward the improvements that followsthe remarks.
