Evaluation of COTS Hardware Assemblies for use in Risk Averse, Cost Constrained Space‐based Systems

Abstract

AbstractA need for reduction in cost has driven many aerospace companies to consider using Commercial‐off‐the‐shelf (COTS) hardware products during a space‐based system design and development phase. Newly developed fixed‐price space systems have a difficult challenge to address; they need to optimize their processes and requirements for cost while still adhering to the appropriate level of risk and rigor for their project. For many government‐funded fixed‐price projects, there is still an expectation of compliance to government standards and associated proof, which can be a challenge when evaluating usage of COTS hardware that may contain limited documentation. This paper presents research done to date for COTS usage in both the software and hardware domains, building upon this to provide a framework for evaluation and verification of COTS hardware assemblies used in a risk averse, cost constrained space‐based applications.