SPIE - Education Systems Engineering for Astronomy Projects SC1001

This course provides an introduction to lean systems engineering for the development of telescopes, facilities and instruments for astronomy. A primary goal of this course is to illustrate how the rigor of the systems engineering process can help us to build better astronomy products more quickly and more affordable by using the concept phase to define the product well and plan the project for success. The course will be exercise-driven, using an example of an actual instrument. During the course we will explore the various analysis methods that can be used to derive functional and performance requirements of an astronomical instrument. Participants will also learn how to write correct, clear, and concise requirements. This will be followed by working through an example to show the interaction between allocations and performance estimations. The course will conclude with a session on how to plan the project based on the product breakdown structure developed during the course.