Development of standard formats for space systems reliability models

This paper describes draft AIAA S-102, "Space Systems-Quality-Based Dependability Model Transfer Formats Standard." This is a data exchange standard that is being developed to mitigate some of the major problems that have affected space systems reliability programs over the past five years. When completed, S-102 will provide a single framework for constructing and transferring high-quality reliability and maintainability (R&M) models. One of the unique features about this standard is that it defines the required contents of the input dataset for a hazard rate prediction that meets a particular quality level. These criteria were developed by drawing from the experience-pool of the working group that is writing S-102. The working group reached a consensus opinion of the best-case accuracies that can be expected for the five types of input datasets used for hazard rate predictions. These and other criteria contained in S-102 are designed to make reliability assessments understandable, credible, and repeatable. When completed, S-102 will allow customers to specify the desired quality level for R&M predictions and reliability professionals to influence the development of needed improvements in modeling and interfacing capabilities of commercial reliability tools.