Energy accounting model for hardware impact analysis

The Air Force Research Laboratory has recently expanded its ability to assess processing architecture options for next generation mission applications, providing traceability from Air Force mission requirements to the hardware and software implementations necessary to meet those requirements. Of prime concern has been the distinct challenge of quantifying the benefits at the spacecraft/mission level resulting from investments in space electronics technologies at the device and component level. Here, we present a satellite architecture modeling and simulation framework that incorporates a detailed accounting of the spacecraft's energy chain of custody, while providing the flexibility to rapidly and easily change or modify spacecraft components. The model is shown to successfully yield the minimum energy configuration of a hypothetical surveillance satellite mission. This powerful new tool enables creation of a return on investment trade space, and ultimately provides the necessary quantitative analysis to guide/justify technology investment.