Italian Space Agency Approach to COTS

ABSTRACT

The emergence of low-cost Nano and Micro Satellites has reduced barriers to space and allowed an increase of technological initiatives.

The development of CubeSat has been mainly driven by limited budgets and restrictions on personal resources and thus requires, along with a different engineering approach, extensive use of COTS electronics since typical space-qualified EEE components are no longer attractive due to their extremely high costs, long lead times, and low-performance flexibility.

The Italian Space Agency has recently launched ALCOR, a program dedicated to innovative Nano Satellite missions and technologies, working as an incubator at the national level.

The COTS selection & testing approach proposed aims to minimize the most relevant risks related to using COTS in Space and maximize the success rate of the missions.

Speakers: Cinzia Altarozzi

Cinzia Altarozzi: Product Assurance Manager of many institutional projects of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and payload for international NASA and ESA, such as PLATiNO, Licia Cube, Metis, and Euclid. Provides technical and quality support to industries collaborating for ASI. Participate and organize Parts Control Board and Review Board meetings as customers with the support of the Eclipse tool.

Collaborators

Silvia Natalucci (Micro and Nanosat Department, ASI), silvia.natalucci@asi.it

Rita Carpentiero (Quality Department, ASI), rita.carpentiero@asi.it

Marco Di Clemente (Technology Department, ASI), marco.diclemente@asi.it

Cinzia Altarozzi (Quality Department, ASI), cinzia.altarozzi@asi.it

Giovanni Cucinella (IMT, CTB-ASI advisor), giovanni.cucinella@imtsrl.it