Cross-model verification of the electrical power subsystem in space projects

Abstract

Verification of functional and performance requirements in both government and commercial space programs is a challenging task. Nowadays, spacecraft can be regarded as complex systems, and demanding quality requirements have to be fulfilled. Verification activities are performed in different steps and by means of various test environments/spacecraft models. This paper presents a cross-model verification approach for space projects and shows its application to the Electrical Power Subsystem. Functional and performance requirements of such subsystem are verified on the spacecraft Engineering Model by reusing test cases and corresponding test scripts from the On-Board Software testing campaign. This can be achieved thanks to the above-mentioned cross-model verification approach. In particular, test cases can be conceived and implemented by means of an XML-based test procedure language, independently from the underlying test environment.