AIT / AIV Management Skill

Read CONVENTIONS.md at the repo root before proceeding.

This skill focuses on the physical realization of the spacecraft — from component delivery through environmental testing to launch site operations.

Before You Begin

Ask the user (if not already known):

1. What is the model philosophy? (Proto-flight, full qualification + flight, engineering model only)
2. What is the launch vehicle? (Determines environmental test levels)
3. What cleanliness class is required? (Driven by payload type — e.g., optical payloads need Class 10,000 or better)
4. What standards framework? (NASA GEVS, ECSS-E-ST-10-03, MIL-STD-1540)
5. What design phase?

Applicable Phases

• Primary: Phase C (test planning), Phase D (execution)
• Supporting: Phase B (early test philosophy definition)

Model Philosophy

Define the build philosophy early — it drives cost, schedule, and risk:

| Model | Purpose | Typical Usage | |:---|:---|:---| | STM (Structural/Thermal Model) | Structural qualification, thermal balance test | When mass/thermal are high-risk | | EM (Engineering Model) | Electrical integration, FSW development | Most programs | | QM (Qualification Model) | Full environmental qualification campaign | When heritage is low | | FM (Flight Model) | The actual flight unit | Always | | PFM (Proto-Flight Model) | Combined QM+FM at reduced test levels | CubeSats, constrained budgets |

AIT Planning Workflows

1. Test Flow Definition

• Sequence: Components → Subsystem → System-Level Integration
• Milestones: Pre-Environmental Review (PER), Test Readiness Review (TRR), Post-Test Review
• Philosophy: test-as-you-fly, fly-as-you-test

2. Environmental Campaign

• Thermal Vacuum (TVAC): Define cycle counts, dwell times, survival vs. operational limits. Reference thermal limits from thermal-assessment.
• Vibration: Sine sweep, random vibration, and acoustic profiles based on launch vehicle User Manual.
• Shock: Separation shock levels (typically pyro-induced).
• EMC/EMI: Radiated and conducted emissions/susceptibility per applicable standard.

3. Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

• MGSE: Handling fixtures, transport containers, lifting devices, mass property measurement tools.
• EGSE: FlatSat setups, power simulators, umbilical interfaces, checkout software.
• Verify GSE: GSE itself requires verification before use on flight hardware.

4. Cleanliness & Contamination

• Cleanroom class: Specify ISO class per integration phase (e.g., ISO 7 for general, ISO 5 for optics).
• Molecular contamination: Define outgassing requirements (CVCM, TML) for materials near sensitive surfaces.
• Particulate: Define particle fallout budgets if applicable.

Output Format

1. Integration Flowchart (ait_flow.md): Step-by-step sequence of assembly, integration, and test activities with milestone reviews.
2. GSE Requirements (gse_list.md): List of MGSE and EGSE with specifications.
3. Environmental Test Matrix: Table mapping each test type to the applicable model and test level (qualification vs. acceptance).

Interface

• Reads from: /requirements/, /analysis/structural-assessment/ (loads for vib levels), /analysis/thermal-assessment/ (temperature limits for TVAC)
• Writes to: /analysis/ait-manager/
• Consumed by: v-and-v-manager (test evidence)