Experience of using COTS components for deep space missions

In recent years, NASA has adopted a faster, better, and cheaper philosophy for space exploration. This philosophy mandates space missions to be accomplished with much lower cost, shorter development cycle, and more capabilities than ever. In order to meet these challenges, starting 1998, NASA's Office of Space Science has initiated the Advanced Deep Space Systems Technology Program, also known as X2000, to develop advanced technologies for future deep-space exploration missions. One of the focus technology development areas is advanced avionics, which is being developed by the Center for Integrated Space Microsystems (CISM) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Under X2000 and CISM, a breakthrough multi-mission avionics system is being developed. This avionics system employs low cost hardware and software products that are widely available in the commercial market. By using COTS through out the system, we expect to significantly reduce both the development cost as well as the recurring cost of the system, and thus be able to meet the faster, better, cheaper challenges. On the other hand, COTS are not specifically developed for applications such as deep-space missions. Therefore, the real challenges are: How to select COTS technologies How to overcome their shortcomings in space applications.