Robustness as key to success for space missions

Abstract

To lead space missions to a success requires a high degree of autonomous intelligence in software and highly reliable hardware. In particular, all software and hardware components should be robust against failures, inexact measurement of data, and, ideally, unforeseen events. This chapter provides an introduction to the demanding conditions in the space environment and describes measures in hardware and software and their testing that are necessary for the development of robust systems for space missions. © 2008 Springer-Verlag London.