China's manned spacecraft picks LDRA tool

UK: The China Manned Spacecraft Program (CMSP) has selected LDRA, the provider of automated software verification tools, and the LDRA tool suite to analyze complex safety-critical applications related to the Tiangong 1 spacecraft. The Tiangong spacecraft, required to meet DO-178B Level-A certification, will carry out space rendezvous and docking experiments that support the overall mission of CMSP. The LDRAtool suite will enable CMSP developers to achieve the stringent safety-critical standards required to ensure the safe launch of the spacecraft.

The LDRA tool suite has successfully enabled the Chinese space program to achieve safety- and mission-critical certification for its software applications since 2001. In this latest development phase, the CMSP is required to check programming standards to the Chinese Military Standard GJB5369-2005K, undertake and automate unit test, analyze code coverage up to DO-178B Level-A for Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) and verify object code for the critical systems in the Tiangong 1 spacecraft. The LDRA tool suite is the only commercially available tool that meets all of these latest requirements for software testing and providing full lifecycle support.

“Coding standards enforcement has become a widespread requirement in China,” noted Zhiqiang Zhang, CEO of Vision Microsystems. “The LDRA tool suite identifies many deep dataflow defects which cannot be detected by other tools. In addition the tool suite’s automation facilities make unit testing a seamless and highly productive process.”