A Brazilian software industry experience in using ECSS for space application software development

This paper presents the tailoring of ECSS software product assurance requirements aiming at the development of scientific satellite payload embedded software by a Brazilian software supplier. The software item, named SWPDC, developed by DBA Engenharia de Sistemas LTDA within Software Factory context, is part of an ongoing research project, named Quality of Space Application Embedded Software - QSEE, developed by National Institute for Space Research - INPE, with FINEP financial support. Among. other aspects, QSEE project allowed to evaluate the adherence of a Software Factory processes to INPE's embedded software development process requirements. Although not familiar with space domain, the high maturity level of such supplier, CMMI-3 formally evaluated, facilitates the Software Factory to comply with the requirements imposed by the custumer. Following the software verification and validation processes recommended by ECSS standards, an Independent Verification and Validation - IVV approach was used by INPE in order to delegate the software acceptance activities to a third party team. ECSS standard tailored form contributions along the execution of the project and the benefits provided to the supplier in terms of process improvements are also presented herein.