scope:

Purpose

This NASA Technical Handbook provides guidance for establishing a mission architecture as part of an acquisition framework for a NASA uncrewed space mission. Note that in this context, acquisition refers to a larger context than the procurement; rather, it refers to the acquisition of a capability. Acquisition of such a capability encapsulates the conception of an idea, the development of a Mission to realize that idea, and the management of the design, build, integration, test, and operation of that Mission. The framework is applied to a specific project using an appropriate methodology. This NASA Technical Handbook is focused on project formulation and execution in the context of NASA's operating model, as defined in NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 1000.3, The NASA Organization. In the context of this NASA Technical Handbook, a project is typically sponsored by a NASA program within the NASA Headquarters Science, Space Technology, or Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorates (SMD, STMD, or HEOMD) and represents a specific investment having defined goals, objectives, requirements, and life-cycle cost, as well as a timeframe with a beginning, and an end. This NASA Technical Handbook implements relevant NASA policies, processes, and standards as defined in NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 7120.5, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements; NPR 7123.1, NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements; NASA/SP-6105, Revision 2, NASA Systems Engineering Handbook; and other governing documents. Specifically, Systems Engineering (SE) activities are guided by the SE Engine in NASA/SP-6105, Revision 2, Section 2.1.

It is also noted that a key objective of this version of the NASA Technical Handbook is to create an initial starting point for a continuing and evolving discussion across NASA for embracing System Architecture Development in a consistent manner. This dialogue will help NASA evolve to more interoperable digital work processes. It is expected that this NASA Technical Handbook represents a starting point that will help bring various Center cultures to the discussion of Architecture, and it is expected to evolve, consistent with the dialogue.

Applicability

This NASA Technical Handbook is applicable to uncrewed space missions concerned with scientific discovery, including, but not limited to, an entire spacecraft or one or more scientific instruments. It provides guidance and support from which a project can draw to efficiently develop a mission architecture for a project and for the system described by that architecture that will successfully perform the mission. These projects formulate and implement uncrewed science missions that are planned, realized, and ultimately operated through the science, project management (PM), and engineering efforts of the responsible NASA Center for use primarily by system engineers and architects, scientific investigators, program managers, and support staff, who should be familiar with the NASA project life cycle, requirements, and model-based approaches for applying the SE process defined in NPR 7120.5, NPR 7123.1, NASA-STD-7009, Standard for Models and Simulations, and NASA-STD-1006, Space System Protection Standard.

Depending on mission objectives, the guidance in this NASA Technical Handbook can be applied with customization to replace the science content with equivalent technology-related goals, objectives, mission and system designs, and operations.

This NASA Technical Handbook is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers and Facilities. It may also apply to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded Research and Development Center [FFRDC]), other contractors, recipients of grants and cooperative agreements, and parties to other agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in their applicable contracts, grants, or agreements.

This NASA Technical Handbook, or portions thereof, may be referenced in contract, program, and other Agency documents for guidance.