Speaker
Description
In the early phases of a space mission, rapid trade-off analyses and requirement assessments are essential. While full end-to-end simulators (E2ES) can support this process, such tools are rarely available at this stage—particularly in smaller missions such as those led by the Space Weather Office. To fill this gap, a lightweight Python-based simulation tool—SIM-FLARE (Simulation of Instruments and Missions – Framework for Lightweight Analysis and Requirements Evaluation)—is being developed to support fast, modular simulation of key mission parameters.
SIM-FLARE was applied to the SWORD mission, a space weather mission nearing the end of its pre-Phase A study. SWORD aims to provide near-real-time, global observations of the radiation belt environment using multiple onboard radiation monitors. Using SIM-FLARE, the particle count rates along a representative orbit are simulated to evaluate radiation monitor performance across varying radiation belt regions. These simulations directly supported spacecraft design decisions, including optimization of the spin rate to ensure appropriate pitch-angle sampling of electrons and protons in both the inner and outer belts.
By enabling rapid, requirements-driven simulation of science return, SIM-FLARE has proven effective for early mission analysis. Its modular, user-friendly design allows mission teams to quickly iterate on concepts, perform feasibility assessments, and quantify trade-offs during early development—filling a critical need in the space weather mission design pipeline.
An overview of the simulation framework and the results for the SWORD performance simulations will be presented.
