Challenges in designing and developing an instrument for two space agencies simultaneously

Kurzfassung

Public research institutes typically do not operate under a model where they design, develop and deliver a specialized scientific instrument for multiple customers simultaneously. This is the distinctive challenge to take on by the team at the DLR Institute of Space Research in Berlin. We are committed to delivering nearly identical near-infrared push-broom spectrometers for two missions, the NASA’s Venus Emissivity, Radio science, InSAR, Topography, And Spectroscopy (VERITAS) and the ESA’s (EnVision) Venus orbiter missions. Both missions are currently planned for launch in the early 2030s, and have highly complementary science goals. Same planet, similar scientific requirements, same physical laws, nearly same launch period, and yet sometimes very different design standards, development philosophies, operations and interface requirements.

This article aims to provide an overview of the enriching experience acquired during the past years, now that the Phase B is over for both missions with the successful instrument Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) in 2025. This is meant as a platform for the community to learn from others, and understand that most of the time, there is no unique right way. Several paths can lead to the same result: a successful mission. Both agencies will be kept anonymous along the exercise if necessary, and we will focus on the internal experience at DLR.

The several areas of the project that will be covered in this paper include general project management, meetings and reviews organization, documentation management, product assurance, test philosophy, margin philosophy, requirement and system engineering, and risk management.