Expert guidance on verification and validation strategies from unit testing through hardware-in-the-loop and mission simulations
In spaceflight, you cannot debug in production. Once a spacecraft leaves the launch pad, the software must work flawlessly under all anticipated conditions and gracefully handle the unanticipated. This demands a verification and validation approach that is both comprehensive and methodical—but also practical and achievable within program constraints.
FSW Engineering provides consulting and guidance on V&V strategies for flight software, helping teams develop testing approaches that build confidence while remaining realistic about schedule, budget, and available resources. Whether planning a V&V campaign, reviewing test strategies, or addressing specific testing challenges, FSW Engineering brings practical experience from actual spaceflight programs.
Guidance on developing comprehensive verification and validation approaches tailored to mission requirements, software classification, and certification needs.
Consulting on test plans, test approaches, coverage objectives, and verification methods for different software criticality levels.
Advising on test infrastructure approaches including SIL, HIL, and FLAT environments, simulation fidelity requirements, and automation strategies.
Guidance on mapping requirements to verification methods, establishing traceability, and demonstrating verification closure.
Guidance on achieving MC/DC coverage for critical functions, establishing unit test frameworks, and planning component integration sequences.
Consulting on desktop simulation environments, model-based testing approaches, and early verification strategies before hardware availability.
Advising on HIL test bed architecture, real-time simulation requirements, sensor/actuator emulation, and integration with flight hardware.
Guidance on full mission timeline simulations, flight-like avionics test environments, and operational readiness demonstrations.
Execution of test campaigns using actual flight commands and telemetry formats, with run-for-record data collection to validate operational procedures and ground system interfaces.
Final comprehensive test campaign demonstrating flight readiness with the goal of achieving Certification of Flight Readiness, validating that all systems perform as required for mission operations.
Comprehensive verification employs multiple test environment levels progressing from unit test frameworks with automated regression testing, through Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) desktop simulation environments, to Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing with real-time hardware integration. The verification campaign culminates in FLAT-SAT (Flat Satellite) testing—a high-fidelity flight-like avionics test environment where flight hardware is laid out on a test bench to validate end-to-end system behavior before final integration. This Test-as-you-fly philosophy ensures that software is verified under conditions that closely replicate the actual flight environment, maximizing confidence that the system will perform correctly on orbit.
Contact FSW Engineering to discuss effective verification and validation approaches for your flight software.
Schedule Consultation