Reuse of existing software in space projects -: Proposed approach and extensions to product assurance and software engineering standards

Reuse has the potential to substantially decrease the skyrocketing costs of space missions. The European Space Agency sponsored a study on the product assurance aspects of reuse of previously developed software on space projects, called PA-PDS. Several recommendations emerged from this study, along with change proposals to the main standards of software engineering and software product assurance followed by the European space industry. This paper describes those recommendations, the scope of reuse in the existing standards, and provides a justification for the proposed changes to them. A working group has been formed to develop a standard specifically addressing product assurance aspects of reuse.