Model-Based Mission Assurance

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is seeing increased application in the planning and designing of NASA’s missions. The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance is calling the corresponding approach to mission assurance Model-Based Mission Assurance (MBMA).

In MBSE, a virtual model of the system is created, typically while it is still in the designing and planning phase. The model is used as a singular reference source — a "single point of truth" — for system concept, requirements and design, and verification and validation and associated data. Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) can leverage that model to perform a variety of assurance analyses earlier in the life cycle reducing the occurrence of costly changes after the system design hardens. By using the MBSE model, SMA personnel will be able to run simulations and tests in real time, instead of having to wade through — in some cases — thousands of pages of documentation. In addition to being timelier, MBMA promises to be more flexible, quick and cost-effective.

Articulated Vision V Model

Model-Based Mission Assurance News

Help NASA With Its Digital Transformation Strategy

March 30, 2021

NASA’s Safety and Mission Assurance Reliability and Maintainability team is progressing with its Digital Transformation strategy to create solutions that enable seamless data flow and collaboration across centers. Integrating digital technologies will streamline engineering processes and data acquisition, share data among missions and centers seamlessly, leverage tools and technology across the agency, and ensure mission success through knowledge and influence.

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Help NASA Harness Digital Technology

September 02, 2020

In tune with the agency’s initiative to create solutions that enable seamless data flow and collaboration across centers, NASA is hosting its first virtual Digital Transformation Hackathon, Sept. 11.

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SMA Discusses Future of MBMA

July 05, 2019

The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Model-Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) Program has been driving the effort to fully embrace MBMA at NASA. Led by the MBMA Program, a group of Safety and Mission Assurance professionals from across the agency is building the framework to make this effort a reality.

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New MBMA Tool Available to SMA Community

May 06, 2019

The NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging Program is bridging gaps between engineering and assurance disciplines using a Model-Based Mission Assurance tool built around NASA-STD-8729.1, NASA Reliability and Maintainability (R&M) Standard for Spaceflight and Support Systems. The tool — the Systems Engineering and Assurance Modeling platform — is a web-based collaborative platform for modeling assurance cases that can be integrated with the models of the system.

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OSMA Creates MBMA Program to Improve Integration of Assurance Considerations in MBSE

June 27, 2018

The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) created a new program dedicated to developing projects focused on moving demonstrations to best practices in the emerging Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) paradigm. The Model-Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) Program will work to facilitate the integration of assurance functions and requirements into the project model.

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SMA Partners With Pathfinder Study to Support MBSE Direction

January 02, 2018 Publications , Reliability and Maintainability

“At NASA, we should allow computers to do what computers are good at, so people can do what people are good at.”

This perspective, explained by MBSE Pathfinder Study Co-Lead Jessica Knizhnik, is the main motive behind a Pathfinder study, sponsored by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center, to investigate how Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Model-Based Engineering (MBE) techniques can be applied by NASA projects.

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TEAMS: Alternatives to Enable Model-Based Mission Assurance

April 25, 2017 Reliability and Maintainability , Science and Technology

Johnson Space Center’s Reliability and Maintainability program is working on a new system that helps engineers and mission managers make better risk-informed decisions.

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Goddard Hosts MBE Workshop and Shares Model-Based Mission Assurance With MBE Community

May 03, 2016 Events , Reliability and Maintainability , Science and Technology

On Feb. 17-18, Goddard Space Flight Center hosted its second Model-Based Engineering (MBE) workshop, which included an overview of MBE’s mission assurance counterpart, Model-Based Mission Assurance.

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Is Model-Based Mission Assurance the Future of NASA SMA?

November 09, 2015 Reliability and Maintainability

The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance is looking at a new way of assuring complex missions that use Model-Based Systems Engineering.

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People

Anthony DiVenti

Model-Based Mission Assurance Program Manager

Learn more about Model-Based Mission Assurance Program Manager Anthony DiVenti.

Points of Contact

For details on contacting a Model-Based Mission Assurance Point of Contact (PoC), click below.

Find Your PoC

Learning

Launch SATERN SATERN Courses

Course Title	Course Number	Buttons
Introduction to Model-Based Mission Assurance	SMA-HQ-WBT-105	SMA-HQ-WBT-105 Details
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Software System Safety	SMA-SS-PRAC-002	SMA-SS-PRAC-002 Details
APPEL-Foundations of Model-Based Systems Engineering	APPEL-MBSE1	APPEL-MBSE1 Details
APPEL-Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering	APPEL-MBSE2	APPEL-MBSE2 Details
APPEL-Model-Based Systems Engineering Design and Analysis	APPEL-MBSE3	APPEL-MBSE3 Details
The Myth and Reality of Model-Based Systems Engineering	MSFC-TRN04-MRMBSE	MSFC-TRN04-MRMBSE Details

Publications

Title	Publication	Author
Towards a Framework for Reliability and Safety Analysis of Complex Space Missions	NASA	John Evans and Frank Groen	See Paper
Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA): NASA’s Assurance Future	NASA	John Evans, Steven L. Cornford and Martin S. Feather	See Paper
Model Based Mission Assurance in a Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Framework	NASA	Steven L. Cornford and Martin S. Feather	See Paper
Research Challenges in Modeling and Simulation for Engineering Complex Systems	National Modeling and Simulation Coalition	National Modeling and Simulation Coalition	See Paper
Early Engagement of Safety & Mission Assurance Expertise Using Systems Engineering Tools: A Risk-Based Approach to Early Identification of Safety and Assurance Requirements	NASA	Scott Darpel and Sean Beckman	See Paper

Important Links


NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Academy

Print Version

NASA has multiple Model-Based Mission Assurance Points of Contact (PoCs). For more information, contact one of the PoCs below.

Name
Office of Safety and Mission Assurance
Anthony "Tony" DiVenti
Glenn Research Center
Sean Beckman
Goddard Space Flight Center
Nancy Lindsey
Independent Verification and Validation Facility
Frank Huy
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Steve Cornford
Martin Feather
Johnson Space Center
Lui Wang
Vuong Pham
Langely Research Center
Nipa Phojanamongkolkij
Kurt Woodham
Marshall Space Flight Center
Richard Stutts
MBSE Infusion And Modernization Initiative (MIAMI)
Jessica Knizhnik
NASA Safety Center
Mark Kowaleski