Procedure for evaluating the effective use range of the unified space platforms

In JSC “ ISS ” the task of evaluating the efficiency of using the previously developed unified platforms for the creation of a new spacecraft was solved in a more empirical way, by generalizing the reserve for existing developments and as- sessing opportunity and expediency of applying the existing reserve in the future (continuity of development). However, the methodological basis for solving this kind of problem has not been developed to this day. From this follows the con- clusion about the urgency of developing a methodology for assessing the range of effective application of the unified space platform and the need for its implementation. In this article, the methodical approach to problems of expediency of use of existing unified space platforms for creation of new space vehicles on their basis is considered. The sources of uncertainties arising in the design of space vehicles and the stages of choosing the optimal project under conditions of uncertainty are determined. This article describes such a design approach of space vehicles as a rational design. The main task of this approach is indicated. Also in the article the design parameters that determine the structural stability of the spacecraft are listed. A mathe- matical model of a spacecraft based on a unified space platform has been developed, which determines the dependence of design parameters on the characteristics of the payload. The criterion of a space vehicle optimal design based on a unified space platform, defined as the ratio of the effi- ciency index to the cost index for the creation of a spacecraft, is formed. A methodology for assessing the range of effec- tive application of unified space platforms has been developed. Approbation of the developed technique was carried out based on existing geostationary space communication apparatuses on the basis of a unified space platform ”Express-1000NT”, developed by JSC “ ISS ”. Calculated data and graphical representations of effective application ranges of the unified space platform “Express-1000NT” are presented. Based on the results of approbation, it can be concluded that the developed methodology allows to asses properly the range of effective application of unified space platforms for communication satellites in the geostationary orbit.