Methodological principles for the formation of a number of unified space communication satellite platforms

This article formulates the topical problem of formalizing the methodological principles of the search for a compromise between properties repeatability and modification (novelty) for the new models of space technology – communication satellites. The main methodological principles of development continuity are the unification of products and their component parts, means of technological equipment and technological processes, which allows to reduce their diversity and nomenclature. The order of the nomenclature of the articles and their component parts is achieved by developing parametric and type-size series with rationally chosen intervals between the adjacent members of the series according to a complex criterion, a link to the target product performance with the cost of creating the product. The research develops a project model and defines criteria for selecting the size type of a universal space platform. In designing a new spacecraft on the basis of a unified space platform (USP), there is a need to refine it to meet the resource requirements of the new payload (mass and energy consumption). The article sets out the methodological principles for assessing the range of effective applications of the universal space platform for the two most extreme cases of resource requirements (by mass and energy consumption) of the payload: the resources of the platform are excessive or insufficient. Methodological principles have been developed to form a number of unified space platforms. Using the methodological principles for the formation of a series of unified space platforms, the effectiveness ranges of USP were evaluated and the completeness of a number of geostationary communication satellites developed by “ISS” was assessed.