Small Satellite programs and short-duration missions are often characterized by limited budgets and short schedules, where protecting the precious opportunity for a ride to space on time is critical. In addition, increasing demands for advanced on-orbit capability through innovative technologies drive developers to use OTS (off the shelf) electronic parts, e.g., commercial, automotive, aviation, and industrial grade, as a key tactic. The challenge is that, while inexpensive, plentiful and highly-capable, much is unknown about these parts’ sensitivity to the natural radiation environment they will be exposed to in various orbits and in deep space. Due to multiple, interdependent constraints, such data is terrifically hard to come by. Meanwhile, the science and engineering workforce with vast radiation test experience is in a state of transition, with many experienced members exiting the space industry and the cadre of talented technical professionals entering still growing.

A nanosatellite called ANGELS was developed by CNES. The parts procurement policy of this project will be presented. The confidence in the commercial parts of this project is based on 3 pillars: a careful selection, radiation tests and reliability tests at board level. This approach will be presented.

The main barrier to implementing a new methodology for using COTS in space applications is Resistance to Change. Overcoming barriers and debunking well rooted myths, instead of resisting a change, are the way to a proper practical solution to meet present and future requirements. The present space official policies are still penalising the use of COTS, referring to them as “last resort”. The market share of the military/space grade components has decreased to less than 0.3% (in $), questioning the components availability. The only thing certain about the availability security of the military/space EEE components is uncertainty.

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 small, modular and multi platforms mission. These initiatives are devoted to be internationally competitive and to offer an excellent opportunity to test new Italian technologies. Currently estimation is that 20% EEE components in ESA satellites are COTS. No longer a decision if COTS components are needed, but more, how to use them in an appropriate manner according to the mission profile in terms of: Safety, Reliability and Availability. However, main Technology Concerns are related to: Tin whiskers, lead free, Cu wire, Risk Management, Reliability prediction, Derating.

The use of Cubesats is growing. This is mainly due to the need for low-cost communications satellites, new business evolving around earth observation services, and so on. These drive the need for new product solutions for smaller, lighter, and lower cost spacecraft for which DLA’s radiation hardness assured space-grade parts are often an overkill. Furthermore, there is a continuing need to infuse new technology into the QML system. This talk will describe the approaches taken to address these issues and develop standard parts for new missions.

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In today’s Space industry there is an increasing drive to introduce the use of COTS components, both as mission enablers and for cost reduction purposes, without affecting the mission’s reliability figures. SENER Aeroespacial has a long heritage in the Defence industry, where COTS are used extensively. We are currently in the process of transposing some of the knowledge acquired in that area to our Space business, in terms of COTS selection criteria and design rules for high reliability and long service life, among others. In this presentation we will highlight the main challenges we are facing in this process as well as some of the lessons learned associated with COTS usage for our ongoing Space projects.