Summary

This paper analyzes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Space Force approaches to digital engineering implementation along with an investigation of the possibilities for a more coordinated approach between the two. The potential advantages of a coordinated approach are discussed. Five inquiry-based evaluation criteria have been developed for application to four different approaches that might be embraced by the two organizations. A qualitative comparison of the four approaches is presented in the form of an analysis matrix and description. While the assessment does not reveal a clearly optimal path, the process informs the value of a coordinated approach over independent approaches.