Requirement Definition and Early Design of a Modular and Scalable Space Platform for the Automatic In-orbit Assembly

The ability to build large structures in space will play a key role in the future space utilization. Large solar power harvesting systems, telescopes, and even orbital sunshades will shape the evolution of the humankind in the next decades. To overcome the limitations imposed by the volume and mass available from the launchers, such structures will need to be launched as standalone systems assembling directly in space. Hence, modular, scalable, reconfigurable and autonomous architectures are being developed as enabling technologies by many actors in the space business. MOSAICO (MOdular and Scalable space platform for the AutomatIC in-Orbit assembly) is an innovative concept of a modular and reconfigurable space platform, capable of evolving in configuration, shape, and size, to create a large-scale orbiting system. In the frame of the Italian Space Agency research on innovative concept of space missions, a Phase A study was awarded to Politecnico di Torino, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Lazzero Tecnologie, to assess the feasibility of the concept. A multi-phase program was established, starting from the feasibility study of the technology demonstration missions, to the scale-up of production, to the operational phase in which the large structure will be assembled in orbit. The MOSAICO platform comprises modular elements called ensembles that create a mosaic-like architecture. Each ensemble consists of a few modules with a prismatic flat geometry. They are connected through smart robotic joints, with several degrees of freedom to enable connection and reconfiguration of the overall topology. Each ensemble integrates several subsystems within the modules, including attitude and thermal control, power generation, and communication capabilities. The ensembles will be launched as stacks of modules, and will perform an autonomous deployment, rendez-vous and docking in orbit, creating large-scale integrated platforms. The objective of this thesis is to perform part of the activities foreseen in Phase A to assess the feasibility of the program. This thesis begins with an overview of the state of the art, followed by a description of the typical project phases according to ECSS standards and the requirements definition process. The MOSAICO project and program vision is introduced, detailing the planned steps to achieve TRL 9 through technology demonstration and eventual operational use. Stakeholders and needs are identified, along with the mission statement and objectives. The core of the work focuses on system and mission definition, starting with functional analysis and including system decomposition, interface analysis, and concept of operations assessment. These analyses converge toward a set of requirements, which are discussed in the final section as well as considerations for future developments.