Research and Development Of Space Systems Distributed-Verification Approach With Modular Management Process

Having a solid verification program that ensures a “system is built right ” plays a crucial role in both government and commercial space programs, since even the smallest error in a requirement, design/analysis, test, or inspection at every level of a system development, could cause a major system post-launch failure or costly finding of latent problems late in system’s development phase. Since the dawn of space age that started with Soviet Union Sputnik in 1957 and U.S. Explorer in 1958, space systems development activities have experienced a series of maturing processes; however, it became evident that a system engineering-centric centralized-verification approach was mainly used by the U.S. industry throughout its history. Unfortunately, this traditional centralized-verification approach was found to be rather ineffective for minimizing/preventing such costly problems as finding a unit deficiency during a higher level system integration & test phase or in worst case the loss of space or launch vehicles after launch. The main reason for this was that thorough an