What are COTS space components?

ALTER offers a global solution to specific concerns about the use of COTS space components, such as life cycle (obsolescence) or counterfeit detection, integrating all required steps into the supply and testing chain and providing alternative solutions and risk-mitigation strategies. The company has accumulated experience in the validation of any kind of EEE component, putting in place a stringent methodology for product assessment, selection, procurement and testing (evaluation, screening and qualification).

The procurement requirement of plastic commercial microcircuits and discrete components are included in ECSS-Q-ST-60-13C or NASA PEM-INST-001.

doEEEt helps you to define the proper activities flow once minimum project requirements have been set in our area “Applications expected requirements”

The drive to use COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) components in the space industry is growing since these parts allow to obtain higher performance at the system level, which is difficult to obtain using currently available space components. However, the use of COTS components has an inherent risk because of the lack of confidence in the traceability and the long-term performance of these parts as well as the new concerns affecting mostly this type of products (RoHS, counterfeit parts, long-term reliability, etc.).

Consequently, COTS should be considered only if existing hi-rel alternatives are impractical from a performance point of view.

A key factor for the safe use of COTS parts is to take into account the specific quality and reliability concerns associated with the use of these components in space applications, as well as to obtain technological knowledge and manufacturers’ support necessary to properly estimate the risk and the required countermeasures.

With the introduction of a stringent methodology for product assessment, selection, procurement and testing (screening and qualification), using COTS can provide a solution when space level parts are not feasible or available for the intended application.

A methodology for the selection and procurement of COTS can be defined as:

Based on the accumulated experience and in close cooperation with the customer, specific test flows can be defined for each individual type of component.

Reference documents:

• PEM-INST-001, Instructions for PEM Selection, Screening and Qualification (NASA)
• EEE-INST-002, Instructions for EEE Parts Selection, Screening, Qualification and Derating (NASA)
• ECSS-Q-ST-60-13, Commercial Electrica, Electronic and Electromechanical components (ESCC)
• ATN-TN-001, Management of COTS for Space Applications (Alter Technology)