The Space Systems Analysis Laboratory: Utah State University's new concurrent engineering facility

Utah State University, realizing the potential of concurrent engineering facilities in the academic setting, has established the Space Systems Analysis Laboratory (SSAL), a state-of-the-art conceptual design center similar to design centers at government agencies such as NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center as well as The Aerospace Corporation. This facility, to augment Utah State University's growing space engineering capabilities, is used for teaching space systems courses as well as for engaging in space systems designs. With the latter, new capabilities with advanced engineering environments, as well as geographically distributed concurrent engineering, are demonstrated. Utah State University has already entered into at least one partnership to engage in distributed space systems collaborative engineering, whereby participants from each member institution collaborate using Internet technology on space systems projects. This paper discusses the expected capabilities of the SSAL as well as future directions that the facility can take.