The Role of Systems Engineering in Managing Complex Space Programs
When people think about space programs, they often picture rockets, spacecraft, or astronauts. What they do not usually see is the enormous web of decisions, tradeoffs, and coordination that makes those missions possible. That is where systems engineering comes in. For me, it has always been the discipline that turns complexity into something manageable. Early […]
How Mission Architecture Is Evolving in Modern Space Systems Design
When I first started working in aerospace engineering, I thought a lot about hardware. A spacecraft was a set of systems, and my job was to make those systems work. Over time, especially as I moved from national labs into spacecraft design and later into more integrated roles, I realized something important. The real challenge […]