NASA Efforts in Utilizing Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Electronics in Mission Systems

ABSTRACT

Aerospace electrical hardware systems are required to withstand and reliably operate in extremely harsh environments, such as temperature extremes, intense vibrational stress, drastic temperature cycling and high radiation exposure. The nature of aerospace electronics also demands high initial reliability since, with very few exceptions, there is no chance for servicing and repairs. Common risk mitigation techniques for this type of situation are to perform a Reliability Analysis of the system throughout the development cycle and to use electrical components that are regarded as “high reliability” because of additional controls and requirements applied in their design, manufacturing, and testing. That methodology has been successful for decades, but limited availability of space-grade MIL-SPEC parts and a need for using the most current technologies in system designs have necessitated the incorporation of commercial electronics into space flight hardware.

Speaker: Peter Majewicz – NASA

ELECTRONIC PARTS AND PACKAGING PROGRAM DEPUTY MANAGER (ACTING)

Dr. Peter Majewicz currently serves as the acting deputy program manager of the NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging (NEPP) Program, an activity that evaluates new and emerging Electrical, Electronic, and Electromagnetic (EEE) part technologies, shares information, and develops tools for EEE Parts assurance.

He has supported the NEPP Program primarily as the Hybrid Working Group coordinator and managed the development of NASA-STD-8739.10, Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical (EEE) Parts Assurance Standard. Before joining NASA, Majewicz spent five years as a NASA support contractor. Since retiring from active duty as a U.S. naval officer that followed a 22-year career in 2009, he has worked at NASA Langley Research Center.

Majewicz received his Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, in 2005 and his Ph.D. in systems engineering from George Washington University, Washington D.C., in 2017.