PAT-078 - FRR - Software Flight Readiness Milestone Review Checklist

AI (gpt-4o)

The Software Flight Readiness Review (FRR) exit criteria, as outlined in NASA-HDBK-2203, Topic 7.09, focus on verifying that the software is ready for operational use in the mission or system it is part of. The FRR ensures that all critical aspects of the software, including testing, validation, and integration, have been successfully completed and that the software can safely and reliably perform its intended functions in the flight or operational environment. Below is a summary of the Software FRR Exit Criteria:

Summary of Software FRR Exit Criteria

1. Requirements Verification and Validation:
   • All software requirements must be fully verified and validated through successful testing and reviews.
   • This includes functional, performance, safety, and reliability requirements, ensuring they align with the mission objectives.
2. Completion of Testing:
   • All planned software testing must be completed, meeting the defined success criteria for unit tests, integration tests, system-level tests, and acceptance tests.
   • Regression tests should confirm that changes or updates have not introduced new defects.
3. Resolved Defects:
   • All identified software issues, anomalies, and defects must be resolved or documented with clear justifications for acceptance, particularly for non-critical issues.
   • Any remaining risks should be mitigated and assessed for their impact on flight readiness.
4. Configuration Management:
   • The software must be finalized and under strict configuration control, ensuring traceability to its approved baseline configuration.
   • No further unplanned changes should be allowed after FRR approval.
5. Interface Integrity:
   • All software interfaces (internal and external) must be validated and tested to ensure compatibility with hardware, other software components, and external systems.
6. Mission Operations Support:
   • Software readiness for operational use must be demonstrated, including support for flight operations, ground systems, and mission monitoring.
   • Tools for operational use, including troubleshooting and anomaly resolution, should be verified.
7. Documentation Completeness:
   • All required documentation (e.g., test reports, validation results, user manuals, operational procedures, safety reports) must be complete, reviewed, and approved.
   • Documentation should ensure stakeholders clearly understand software behavior and operations.
8. Safety and Risk Assessment:
   • All safety-critical software functions and associated hazards must be addressed, validated, and mitigated.
   • Risk management plans should demonstrate that residual risks are acceptable and pose no threat to mission success.
9. Authority to Proceed:
   • The software must receive formal approval from stakeholders (e.g., program managers, safety teams, and software assurance teams) confirming it is flight-ready.
10. Deployment Readiness:
    • The software must be prepped and ready for deployment, including installation and configuration on relevant mission hardware.
    • All steps for deployment, including backups or recovery procedures, must be established and tested.
11. Problem Reporting Tools:
    • Systems and processes for tracking and resolving software-related issues during flight operations should be in place and functioning.
12. Team and Personnel Preparedness:
    • The team responsible for software operation during the mission must be trained and ready, with roles and responsibilities clearly defined.

Key Purpose of Software FRR Exit Criteria

The FRR exit criteria ensure that the software has reached a level of maturity and stability required for successful integration into the mission environment. By meeting these criteria, the project team verifies that:

• The software can perform safely and reliably in flight or the operational environment.
• All testing and validation activities have been satisfactorily completed, addressing critical risks and defects.
• Mission stakeholders are confident in approving the software for operational use.

Conclusion: The Software FRR exit criteria serve as the final major checkpoint to ensure the software achieves flight readiness. By rigorously validating functionality, safety, and compatibility, NASA ensures mission success, reduces risks, and builds confidence in the software's performance under operational conditions.