Manthey, Airbus Defence and Space: Software related Space Systems Engineering

Software is used to manage almost each subsystem as well as the system, e.g. the spacecraft, as a whole in complex space systems. Depending on the mission, software performs the management functions autonomously or by providing command and control interfaces for ground control or crew. The first requirements allocated to software for managing the system need to be defined already during the system requirements specification phase. Defining these requirements is a co-engineering activity between different system engineering disciplines and requires intensive collaboration and understanding of the system design and operational concept. This talk will give a glimpse into the practical aspects to be taken into consideration when defining software related system requirements and techniques which can support this process. The practical examples are based on engineering experience from space projects such as the International Space Station, Lunar Gateway, Astris Kick Stage, Starlab.