Application of Model-Based Approaches for Earth-Observation Missions

As Earth-observation missions increase in complexity, managing risk and coordination become more complex, particularly for international teams. Traditional paper-based systems can cause delays and design inconsistencies, increasing the risk of discovering issues late in the process when any required changes would be more difficult, which could also be more expensive. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) improves requirements sharing, traceability, and validation. A JPL team used MBSE in the Surface Biology and Geology Thermal Infrared Mission (SBG-TIR), streamlining trade studies and ensuring comprehensive requirement traceability. This paper reviews the key technologies, challenges, and benefits associated with adopting MBSE, with specific insights from the SBG-TIR project, and encourages wider adoption of MBSE for managing the growing complexity of Earth-observation missions. The use of model-based approaches not only improves risk management and coordination but also fosters more robust and adaptable mission designs for future Earth-science missions. This approach enhances confidence in requirements development and enables early detection of potential design risks through scenario-based analyses and simulations. By applying a model-based analysis framework, the team maintained a clear link between system requirements, design elements, and validation processes, thereby mitigating risks and improving project efficiency.