Dependency on O.S. in long-term programs: experience report in space programs

ABSTRACT

Space programs like launchers are typical of long-term programs: the duration may exceed 15 years. On the other hand software components like Operating Systems evolve more quickly, about 4 to 5 years.Illustrated in the particular case of EADS-LV space programs, with real time embedded software developed in Ada language, this paper gives an overview of:- Dependency of an embedded software on Operating System- The relatively fast evolution of technology, languages and standards- Industrial solutions to keep the OS permanence during more than 10 years.