Verification in the field of space systems engineering covers two verification

Verification

The word verification may refer to:* Verification and validation, in engineering or quality management systems, it is the act of reviewing, inspecting or testing, in order to establish and document that a product, service or system meets regulatory or technical standards.* Verification , in the...

 processes: Qualification and Acceptance

Overview

In the field of spaceflight verification standards are developed NASA

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

 and the ECSS

European Cooperation for Space Standardization

The European Cooperation for Space Standardization , established in 1993, is an organization which works to improve standardization within the European space sector. The ECSS frequently publishes standards, to which contractors working for ESA must adhere to.-References:*- External links :* * at...

, and to specify requirements for the verification of a space system

Space system

A space system, in most cases, is a hardcode or softcode system for a game server, in some cases a patch that may be added to the game's hardcode. A space system such as HSpace, for Hemlock Space, used on a PennMUSH game server, generally simulates a three dimensional space, in a text environment....

 product, such as:

• the fundamental concepts of the verification process,
• the criteria for defining the verification strategy and
• the rules for the implementation of the verification programme.

Verification

Verification

The word verification may refer to:* Verification and validation, in engineering or quality management systems, it is the act of reviewing, inspecting or testing, in order to establish and document that a product, service or system meets regulatory or technical standards.* Verification , in the...

 is one main reason that costs for space systems are high. All data are to be documented and to stay accessible for potential, later failure analyses. In previous times that approach was executed down to piece-parts level (resistors, switches etc.) whereas nowadays it is tried to reduce cost by usage of "CAM (Commercial, Avionics, Military) equipment" for non-safety relevant units.

Qualification and Acceptance

Qualification is the formal proof that the design meets all requirements of the specification and the parameter

Parameter

Parameter from Ancient Greek παρά also “para” meaning “beside, subsidiary” and μέτρον also “metron” meaning “measure”, can be interpreted in mathematics, logic, linguistics, environmental science and other disciplines....

s agreed in the Interface Control Documents

Interface Control Document

An interface control drawing or interface control document in systems engineering and software engineering, describes the interface of interfaces to a system or subsystem.- Overview :An ICD may describe...

 (ICD) including tolerances due to manufacturing imperfections, wear-out within specified life-time, faults etc. The end of the qualification process is the approval signature of the customer on the Certificate of Qualification (COQ) agreeing that all his requirements are met.

Acceptance is the formal proof that the product identified by its serial number meets all requirements of the specification and is free of workmanship and material failures. Acceptance is based on the preceding qualification by reference to the used design / manufacturing documentation. The end of the acceptance process is the approval signature of the customer on the Certificate of Acceptance (COA) agreeing that all his requirements are met by the product to be delivered.

Qualification verification methods are

• Review of design using configuration controlled drawings (for software code review)
• Analysis
• Test (functions under specified environment, mass, dimensions etc.)
• Inspection (especially for Human Factors Engineering requirements with astronauts for manned spacecrafts).

Each software element will be tested alone and as part of the overall system configuration until considered as qualified.

Acceptance verification methods are

• Test
• Inspection by Quality Insurance engineers.

Further reading

• ECSS
  European Cooperation for Space Standardization
  The European Cooperation for Space Standardization , established in 1993, is an organization which works to improve standardization within the European space sector. The ECSS frequently publishes standards, to which contractors working for ESA must adhere to.-References:*- External links :* * at...
  
  -E-ST-10-02: Verification (European Space Standard)