Lunar Base Architecture Trade Space Exploration: An Operational Perspective

As NASA prepares to return to the Moon, it is important to verify that the architectures selected to carry out these missions can fulfill all necessary requirements. To accomplish this, we propose a methodology that combines Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with operations modeling provided by a discrete event simulation (DES) to create a pipeline capable of testing the operational effectiveness of a lunar base by starting with a list of objectives the base needs to accomplish. While the overall methodology is explained at a high level, the main focus of this paper is on the operations model. Simulating the operations of a lunar base requires the consideration of many different factors, such as power systems, astronaut behaviors, and lunar rovers. To demonstrate the capabilities of this methodology, we carried out a case study that analyzed the effectiveness of two lunar base architectures designed to accomplish a subset of the objectives listed in NASA's Moon-to-Mars Architecture Definition Document (M2M ADD).