Campaign Modeling with Data-Oriented Modeling Architectures

The space industry faces a critical bottleneck: while launch costs have plummeted, spacecraft development remains expensive due to slow and inefficient design processes. Complex designs exacerbate this issue by increasing the likelihood of costly failures when attempting to cut costs. Vis Viva Space applies data-oriented programming architectures from the video game industry to develop a new data-oriented approach to Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering tools for aerospace design applications. This proposal would develop an open source MBSE tool with a design data repository to integrate and automate analysis models as part of a continuous integration pipeline. This approach allows distributed science and engineering teams to interchange data with open, industry-standard interfaces which can be readily adapted to existing analysis tools and does not require developing new digital engineering models. This technology is initially targeted at the aerospace engineering software market, but it also has potential applications in the broader engineering software market.

This approach to data-oriented modeling and Model Based Systems Engineering is applicable to NASA for aerospace design as well as mission planning, science planning, mission operations, and technology development. Applicability to Robotic Science Missions: This technology can help coordinate design work between engineering sub-system teams and integrate spacecraft design with science planning and instrument design. Applicability to Human Exploration Missions: For human space exploration, this technology facilitates the design coordination of multiple flight elements as well as the space logistics in operationally aggregating these elements. Applicability to Mission Operations: This approach can be used to design the ground operations elements of a human exploration or robotic science mission, and it can also be used to manage the transfer of design knowledge to the operations teams. Applicability to Technology Programs: This system’s design databases can be used to better understand the potential mission applications for new technologies by making design data accessible to technologists who can use it both to demonstrate the potential mission impact of a new technology and to discover unmet mission needs for future research. This data-oriented Model Based Systems Engineering technology is broadly applicable to design efforts outside of NASA. It is particularly applicable to industries with complex and expensive design processes for a small number of products. These sectors often involve intricate engineering challenges, strict safety requirements, and the need for precision and customization. Examples include aerospace (e.g., spacecraft, launch vehicles), maritime (e.g., luxury yachts, naval vessels), and large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g., bridges, tunnels).

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.