STATUS OF THE CONCURRENT ENGINEERING FACILITY AT DLR BREMEN

Abstract

Engineering processes for spacecraft design generally need much time, cost and effort due to the complexity of subsystem interaction and the challenging conditions in space.To ensure highest efficiency for system and mission design regarding quality, time and cost, the DLR-Institute of Space Systems in Bremen is currently installing a Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF) which will be completed in autumn 2008.The facility contains 12 workstations for specialists of several disciplines and additional positions for customers, visitors and experts.The implementation of modern tools and communication technologies shall allow running the engineering and design processes efficiently.Currently the CE-process is based on the Integrated Design Model (IDM) used at ESA ESTEC's Concurrent Design Facility (CDF).In January 2008 DLR has started CE-training in a "Preliminary Design Workshop" (DWS), which is coached by the company JAQAR and ESTEC, having ten years of experience in this kind of systems engineering.The present paper gives an overview about the long-term vision and the current development status of the DLR Concurrent Engineering Facility at the Bremen DLR institute.