SPEC Innovations' Community Blog | Systems Engineering Approaches

Agile MBSE for Satellite Systems Example

Written by Elizabeth Steiner | 7/29/25 6:37 PM

Systems engineering can play a pivotal role in improving sustainability and a healthier planet with the development and management of critical systems.  Learn how to use Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) for modeling and simulating fire detection satellite systems with the Innoslate example project.

Project FireSat models space satellites that detect forest fires. You'll learn how to gather requirements, create a behavioral process model and physical models, and then use a verification and validation method to ensure the models meet the requirements.

 

Gather Requirements

Begin by developing the fire satellite system requirements documents and establishing relationships, including traced to, verified by, and satisfied by. As you build, you can add live diagrams directly into the document.

 

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Develop the Behavioral Models

Next, start modeling the process. The Design Reference Mission for FireSAT is similar to other scientific earth observation missions. The normal operations are preceded by a series of spacecraft and payload commissioning steps, followed by disposal, years in the future at the end of the mission. Our systems engineers drag and drop steps, decisions, and actors (assets) into the diagram.

 

Develop the Physical Models

Create a concept of operations diagram for the system using an asset diagram and adding images for your asset. This diagram shows the various components and conduits that make up the FireSat system, adding attributes for accurate simulation.

 

Test Your Models with Simulation

Then use the Discrete Event Simulator to check that our process model executes. Once it executes, we will check the variance of the cost, schedule, and performance in the Monte Carlo Simulator.

 

Verify and Validate the Results

Now that we know the process works, we create a test suite and track our test progress. Lastly, we will use a Traceability Matrix. This final step leverages the built-in traceability and suspect assist to ensure accurate traceability.

 

By leveraging requirements management, process modeling, asset allocation, cost simulation, testing, and more, this project demonstrates how systems engineers can contribute to a more sustainable and safer world.  Sign up for a free account and try the FireSat project in the welcome tour. ⬇️