Model-based fault management for spacecraft autonomy

Abstract

Autonomous health monitoring is a key enabling technology for future space missions. One approach to developing this capability is through model-based fault management. This method seeks to leverage system models in order to enable rapid algorithm development, reduce the burden of verification and validation, and ensure that a large set of possible faults can be detected and identified. Here, a high fidelity model of a spacecraft attitude control system is used to as step towards validating the performance of Marple, a model-based fault management system. The ultimate goal is to validate this autonomous fault management capability for use on robotic and manned missions and this work is a step to that end.