Towards a systems engineering framework for CubeSats development

The space sector is currently undergoing a trans-formative phase marked by the emergence of CubeSat projects. Although many CubeSats are launched annually, only a few manage to accomplish their missions. This challenge is partly attributed to the inherent complexity of CubeSats, which, despite their small size, remain intricate systems. Companies engaged in CubeSat development generally lack the resources and regulatory impetus to implement systematic engineering processes, as outlined in international standards. The absence of a straightforward and space-specific system engineering framework hinders teams in effectively managing their development processes, addressing system complexity, and consequently, limits the success rate of missions. The objective of this article is to delineate the methodology devised to formulate such a framework. Our approach is anchored in the utilization of the ISO/IEC TR 29110-1:2016 system engineering standard, which we propose to expand to align with the specifications of the space sector defined in the ECSS-EST-10C standard. The deployment of an initial version of the framework in a project undertaken by the Expleo Group, along with parallel initiatives within the European Space Agency, serves as a catalyst for further exploration in this direction.