With the growing consideration of COTS EEE components for space applications, SEE radiation testing will be a challenge. Due to the dense, complex circuits in Flip-Chip, hybrids or plastic packages with Cu bond wires, the opening of such packages is either impossible or difficult, with the risk to modify the device response. This limits the possibility to perform traditional SEE testing with standard heavy ions (<10MeV). Alternative SEE testing strategies have to be used employing high energy protons or more energetic heavy-ion beams with a proper compromise between LET and range. The presentation will provide an overview of the use and availability of the testing facilities in Europe offering high energy protons (200 MeV) and heavy-ion beams: ranging from the high energy Heavy Ions (HE) to the Very-High Energy, (VHE) and Ultra-High Energy (UHE).

The European Space Sector can no longer avoid the need to plan and implement a managed transition to lead-free electronics. This stimulus comes from two fronts: Regulatory and Market pressures. In the Regulatory front while the Space Sector was out of scope of the RoHS Directive, a new front has recently opened with REACH. The Sector is also subjected to increasing Market pressures. Due to the overall transition of the Electronics Industry worldwide to a Pb-free realm, the Space Industry is more and more confronted with a situation where they cannot avoid using EEE parts with Pb-free coatings, notably COTS, and they need to manage the associated risks

New Space enforces new efficient processes and materials in many areas. To meet the goals COTS materials and parts are mandatory. In order to develop those new processes TESAT has put together engineers from system development, parts engineering and manufacturing to find the best way for new space production. As a result guidelines have been refined that should be used particularly in New Space projects. The guidelines affect the way of engineering, selection of COTS parts, handling, stock, test strategy and more. The presentation is giving insight in TESATs experience in those areas.

Airbus D&S is a major player in the New Space and Constellation market, as well as in the traditional Space sector. As such, we have gained extensive experience in dealing with automotive components. Automotive components are of tremendous and continuously increasing importance for current and future space programs. However, there are differences and challenges when using automotive parts in comparison to traditional Hi-Rel EEE components. We share our broad experience on handling the complete end-to-end supply chain process from the EEE manufacturer, to the final use of automotive components in space programs. There will be special focus on the definition of automotive components & standards, the motivation of using automotive components in space programs, the selection, procurement and use of automotive components in space programs and the main differences compared to traditional approaches.

To meet the opportunities and challenges arising in the context of future space systems, digital and mass manufacturing revolution, emerging space markets and high pressure to reduce cost; an ESA COTS Steering Committee was established in 2018. The Steering Committee objective has been to shape the future use of COTS in ESA’s programmes. The baseline approach taken has been to address three key questions: Where are we now?; Where do we want to go?, and How do we get there? This presentation will provide a status of the ESA COTS Initiative and the next steps being considered by ESA to implement a COTS strategy in the future