One size fits all? Customization of standard space systems engineering approaches for missions with and within DLR Institute of Space Systems

Abstract

After 10 years of its existence, this paper shall provide an overview over DLR Institute of Space Systems’ projects, spacecraft and missions designed, developed, built so far, some of them launched and already operated successfully in space. As DLR-IRS has a special role in between industry and academia, so do its projects and systems. Depending on their nature, constraints and circumstances some of them are taken on in a classical way, following ECSS standards, while some have been performed in ways which could be characterized as agile. In this retrospective we will attempt to classify different projects and investigate the lessons learned based on the approaches taken. We will further elaborate on how we intend to infuse new approaches and what might be the future of space systems developments in DLR, which constantly aims to achieve scientific excellence, while building highly capable and suitably risky missions.