Test Like You Fly [spacecraft]

Many hours have been dedicated to verifying that spacecraft built and tested in non-flight environments can actually perform the intended mission objectives. During spacecraft integration and test, engineers attempt to achieve the highest fidelity testing possible and to the greatest extent possible, Test Like You Fly. Spacecraft assembly and test must satisfy both spacecraft system assembly requirements and mission operations requirements within the allocated cost and schedule constraints. This paper will show how a hybrid of two systems can be used to satisfy both system test and mission operations requirements incrementally throughout spacecraft assembly, achieving a high degree of Test Like You Fly.