Full recovery and reconstitution for a satellite typically require robust redundancy and secure on-orbit reconfiguration methods—both can be tested using high-fidelity simulation or hardware-in-the-loop labs. This enhancement only applies if the platform is designed to rebuild essential subsystems after a catastrophic failure (e.g., by switching to a backup flight computer or reloading an entire software image from protected storage). Ground controllers can rehearse these steps in a simulator, verifying that each fallback mechanism is accessible and that reconstitution procedures do not introduce new vulnerabilities (e.g., unvalidated reboots or partial key resets). These capabilities significantly extend mission resilience if adequately validated, letting operators restore partial or full functionality even after severe anomalies.
The [organization] shall conduct testing of contingency plans to verify the full recovery and reconstitution of the spacecraft to its normal operational state.{CP-4(4)}