Requirements engineering in science data processing systems

Science data processing is a component of most research and development programs nationally and internationally and is a prime focus of work performed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Requirements engineering is probably the most important phase in the software development lifecycle and there are many ways requirements engineering is performed by different projects. Comparisons and contrasts can be made about how science products are specified, created and managed by different projects. Identification of these characteristics leads to a better understanding of how requirements engineering is performed and how it can be improved.