TABLE OF CONTENTS Our final chapter brings together the elements of a satellite communications system in a manner that it is designed to meet its technical and financial objectives. We have chosen to divide this into two major efforts: (1) systems engineering, which is the discipline that starts with the overall requirements that the system must address along with the selection of major elements that meet those requirements, and (2) engineering economics, to evaluate the costs of the elements and how the system funds those costs through budgets and revenues, as appropriate. The end result is a system that can be constructed and operated throughout its lifetime, returning capital and, if appropriate, profit, to its owners. We conclude with our approach to creating the future of satellite communications.
The general discipline of systems engineering has existed a long time, beginning during World War II and growing through major technology programs associated with the Cold War. It took a commercial direction when space technology became the basis of the satellite communications industry. Thus, people who were schooled in systems engineering on government programs (nuclear subs, ICBMs, and large aircraft) found it very useful in the development of larger commercial projects like INTELSAT IV, DIRECTV, and Iridium. The following is a general statement that introduces the objectives of systems engineering [1]:
An interdisciplinary process to ensure that customer and stakeholder's needs are satisfied in a high quality, trustworthy, cost efficient and schedule compliant manner throughout a system's entire life cycle.
