Design Project II: Boeing Future of Space
ED&G 100: Introduction to Engineering Design
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
Spring 2003 


Project Objective

Define a new mission with supporting rationale.  Using today’s existing or planned space hardware designs, configure a new system that accomplishes your mission’s goals.

 

 

Background

So much hardware has been invested in space over the years—and much for the same purpose—supporting the International Space Station (ISS) or launching communication satellites.  What would be other reasons to go to space and how would you do it?

The Boeing Company (http://www.boeing.com) is the world’s leading aerospace company, with its heritage mirroring the history of flight.  It is the largest manufacturer of satellites, commercial jetliners, and military aircraft.  The company is also a global market leader in missile defense, human space flight, and launch services.  In terms of sales, Boeing is the largest U.S. exporter.  Total company revenues for 2002 were $54.1 billion.  Boeing continues to expand its product line and develop new technologies to meet customer needs.  From creating new versions of its family of commercial airplanes; to developing, producing, supporting and modifying aircraft for the U.S. military; to building launch vehicles capable of lifting more than 14 tons into orbit; to improving communications for people around the world through an advanced network of satellites, Boeing continues a long tradition of technical excellence and innovation.

The global reach of the Chicago-based company includes customers in 145 countries, employees in more than 70 countries and operations in 46 states.  Worldwide, Boeing and its subsidiaries employ close to 165,000 people with major operations in the Puget Sound area of Washington state; Southern California; Wichita, Kansas; and St. Louis, Missouri.  Boeing is organized into five major units: Air Traffic Management, Boeing Capital Corporation, Commercial Airplanes, Connexion by BoeingSM, and Integrated Defense Systems.  In addition, its Shared Services Group provides common services and efficient infrastructure services that enable the company’s business units to concentrate on profitable growth, and Phantom Works, which provides advanced research and development, working with business units to identify their technology needs and addressing them with innovative, affordable solutions.

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems provides end-to-end services for large-scale systems that combine sophisticated communications networks with air, land, sea and space-based platforms for global military, government and commercial customers.  The company offers an extraordinary range of defense and space systems products and services.  It designs, produces, modifies and supports fighters, bombers, transports, rotorcraft, aerial refuelers, missiles and munitions and is on the leading edge of military technology through its unmanned systems development efforts.  Boeing Integrated Defense Systems also supports the U.S. government on several programs of national significance, including the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program, the National Reconnaissance Office's Future Imagery Architecture, the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program and NASA’s International Space Station.  The company recently became the systems integrator for several new programs, including the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems and Joint Tactical Radio Systems, FAB-T, and the Explosive Detection Systems for the Department of Transportation [description of The Boeing Company excerpted from http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/brief.html].

 

Project Scope

This project is, at its core, a “systems engineering” project.  In developing your new mission, keep the following guidelines in mind:

 

Project Deliverables

A new mission with supporting rationale that uses today’s existing or planned space hardware designs in a configuration to accomplish your mission’s goals.

Key Deliverables:

Note: Your instructor will clarify his or her expectations for these deliverables and their respective due dates.

Materials Provided: