COTS EEE parts: a new frontier for the coming Italian Space Agency Space policy

PLATiNO: the new ASI “multi-purpose” platform for small satellites

In response to the rapid increase in interest in the use of small satellites, for different types of mission in low earth and interplanetary orbits, the Italian Space Agency have supported a line of national technological developments to allow the realization of a new generation of modular and multi-mission platform for small satellite. 

This initiative named PLATiNO is devoted to be internationally competitive and to offer an excellent opportunity to test new Italian technologies

PLATiNO primary objectives

• TECHNOLOGY: Identify and develop national technologies that can increase the Italian capacity to implement space missions based on small satellites and allow acess to technologies currently precluded at the national level;
• PRODUCT: to create totally innovative product line, a small multi-mission platform with different possible configurations, capable of operating in different mission scenarios and with different types of payloads, and able to satisfy the emerging demands of the commercial market and institutional;
• COMPETITIVENESS: to realize a supply chain and a production structure that allow to place on the market a recurring platform product characterized by competitive development times and costs at the international level.

How to reach the objectives?

To this aim one initiative involved in investigating the possible use of commercial-grade electronic parts in spacecraft design has been promoted.

Usage of COTS components for space applications are already a reality for the following reasons:

• better performances: applications are becoming more and more sophisticated and need state of the art EEE Components for their implementation

• better availability compared to market non-availability of traditional level components due to diminishing sources

• Reduced Cost of Ownership

• Reduced Lead times

The question is not “COTS authorised or not“ but authorisation with which conditions (i.e. with which additional tests).

Constraints on COTS usage

• Only grade 1 (ECSS-ST-Q-60- Parts class 1;  NASA EEE-INST-002-Parts category 1; JAXA QPL class 1) connectors are allowed at equipment interface
• Commercial extended temperature range (-55°;+125°C) from MIL QML lines and commercial parts with industrial grade (-40; +85°C minimum) shall be avoid for:
  • Cristal Oscillator
  • Cristal
  • Electromagnetic relays
  • Hybrids

Manufacturer selection policy

Manufacturers from which COTS parts can be selected shall have implemented (and maintain):

• • • • An effective systems for process characterization and process control or an effective systems for qualifying processes and products.
      • A reliability test program for generating reliability data for processes and products.
      • An effective policy installed for ensuring continuous process improvement.
      • A responsive behavior for application and failures related issues and, 
      • A web-site with updated data-sheet, application notes , PCNs, technical support,
      • A responsive behavior, accepting audits/visits in their production site
      • Due consideration shall be given, for commercial parts, to Suppliers which are AEC-Q qualified or implement an Enhance Product (EP) line (with controlled manufacturing baseline, one assembly/test site and qualification data available on request)

Collection of available data on the candidate COTS parts

• • • • Technological and technical description related to the part 
      • Electrical, thermal, mechanical performance characteristics
      • Constructional characteristics
      • Radiation tolerance performances
      • Information about lot homogeneity, traceability, marking and coding,
      • identification of any existing specification or procurement document or data sheet.
      • information on potential export license limitations
      • reference to parts previous usage (if any) 
      • any element available to support parts approval (previous DPA, Constructional Analysis, LAT or screening data, RVT reports, etc.),

COTS EEE parts selection policy

• In case the previous required data are considered as not sufficient, the selected part shall be submitted to an Evaluation as per ECSS-Q-ST-60-13 C that shall contain, as minimum:
  • • • • Constructional Analysis (CA)
        • Radiation Test (TID, SEE), if applicable

• For pure tin parts, retinning results shall be part of evaluation and shall validate the retinning procedure.