{
  "id": 3270020,
  "title": "Integrating Model-Based Systems Engineering and Fault Management to Enable Autonomous Space Missions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/integrating-model-based-systems-engineering-and-fault-management-to",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-25T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/technology-highlights/integrating-model-based-systems-engineering-and-fault-management-to-enable-autonomous-space-missions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Autonomous space missions demand fault detection and compensation abilities without human intervention. To address this challenge and offer model-based support for system design and operations, it is crucial to connect fault management (FM) with model-based systems engineering (MBSE). This integration was successfully demonstrated using NASA’s HelioSwarm mission early design information by generating a failure modes and effects analysis and fault trees. HelioSwarm aims to explore turbulence in the solar wind and its connection to the Sun–Earth system, utilizing a constellation of small satellites for simultaneous, multiscale measurements in cislunar space. NASA aims to enhance autonomous space mission capabilities by increasing system autonomy and resiliency, as these are key technology needs for future missions. Fully autonomous operations require fault management software to automatically detect and mitigate issues without human intervention. Consequently, NASA awarded Qualtech Systems Inc. (QSI) a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop FM capabilities and enhancements to its commercially available toolset, TEAMS®, for HelioSwarm and other NASA heliophysics missions. One key aspect of this effort is integrating SHM/FM with the SE process. Traditionally, SHM/FM is incorporated after a system is designed, making it reactive rather than proactive. This QSI team integrates SHM/FM directly within MBSE from the project's beginning, enabling FM design evaluation in operational contexts. This approach allows for trade studies to assess various FM architectures during the design phase. QSI's toolset, enhanced under this SBIR effort, interfaces with the MBSE framework, facilitating the creation, evaluation, and selection of FM concepts for mission design. By capturing failure causes and impacts, the toolset enables Fault Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analyses (FMECAs) and Fault Tree Analyses (FTAs) to analyze, quantify, and improve system diagnostics and availability. Additionally, QSI's toolset recommends design improvements based on analysis results, such as optimal sensor placement, in industry-standard formats for easy integration into system design.",
  "summary": "Fully autonomous space mission operations require the ability to detect faults and compensate for them without human intervention. To address this challenge and provide model-based support for system design and operations, it is important to connect fault management (FM) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE). This approach was successfully demonstrated with the model-based generation of a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}