Maintaining Test Rigor and Fidelity for Responsive Space Programs

摘要

Recent emphasis by the Department of Defense (DoD) on the rapid fielding of space assets to support the warfighter has driven the demand for fielding space programs with compressed acquisition cycles. This results in highly compressed testing schedules. Space assets generally require significantly more rigorous testing then other DoD systems because they are required to work perfectly on the first instance of operation since there is no economically feasible method for repair or adjustment of space assets once they are on orbit. Significantly reducing time to plan and execute the testing of space assets coupled with the demand for high fidelity testing generate one of the largest challenges to meeting demands for responsive space: "how to maintain test rigor and fidelity for responsive space programs." The Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW) has a long history of successfully launching and operating many research and development (R&D) satellites which by nature have short acquisition cycles. SDTW also works closely with the recently created Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) office which is focused on fielding operational satellites in very short time frames. This makes the SDTW a perfect setting for developing methods for expediting the testing process without sacrificing fidelity. Engineers at SDTW have conducted an analysis of test methods to work toward understanding and resolving this testing issue. Their conclusion was that standardization is the key to accomplishing high-quality testing in a severely limited timeframe. Although each system is different and some tailoring is required, standardizing the equipment, the test strategy and the documentation wherever possible yields significant time savings without sacrificing test rigor. Standardizing equipment allows test results to be leveraged on multiple different programs, minimizing the amount of repetitive testing that must he accomplished. Standardization of test strategy shortens the initial test planning process by building off of the planning and lessons learned during earlier programs. Standardizing documentation reduces the amount of time required to write lest plans, procedures, and briefings. By standardizing space system equipment, testing strategy and documentation. the demand to accomplish rigorous testing despite short acquisition timetables can he achieved.