# New Space Engineering Design: Characterization of Key Drivers
## 3 Results and Discussion
### General Discussion of New Space Design Drivers and Enablers
#### 3.1.1 Category A: Evolution of Traditional Design Drivers  
To survive in this competitive environment, cost has become a central theme in the current era of space system development, shaping design strategies and technological choices in a more accessible way. While it has always been a factor in space projects, it has now taken precedence over performance and reliability requirements [1; 2; 8; 32]. Alongside cost reduction, reduced time-to-market has emerged as a critical factor, both as an enabler of cost efficiency and as a means for companies, particularly startups and small enterprises, to begin generating revenue in an increasingly competitive and high-risk environment. This is achieved through the adoption of leaner development and organizational approaches, as well as a reduction in the amount of paperwork requiredto demonstrate the development. These practices, increasingly accepted even by major, static-centered clients, contribute to shorter design, integration, and testing phases. Maintaining high performance remains a fundamental objective in space systems development, supported by continuous technological advancements in material science and manufacturing techniques, as well as in engineering fields such as electronics, allowing physical principles to be translated into efficient technological solutions. Much innovation originates from dedicated R&D efforts within established companies, as well as from small enterprises and startups offering specialized know-how, proprietary designs, and patented technologies. Function-specific performance is a broad attribute encompassing metrics, such as efficiency, accuracy, power density, and others, depending on the specific system's or component's function and mission. Continuous research efforts are advancing cutting-edge technologies for future use and enhancing the performance of existing systems across various domains, including energy, propulsion, communication, and remote sensing. A clear example can be found in quantum technologies, which are emerging as contributors to performance enhancement in specific mission areas. These technologies enable advances in precision, sensitivity, secure communication, and timekeeping, while also supporting novel applications such as gravitational wave observation [33; 34]. The selection of a specific driver or solution depends on the overall mission objective. Reliability represents a traditional and critical attribute that needs optimization in space missions, primarily due to the impracticality of maintenance and component replacement in orbit [35]. There has been a shift in how space system reliability is treated, closely linked to risk management in the space business. New Space companies often adopt a new design philosophy, addressing mission risk differently by embracing the concept of \"managed risk\" rather than the traditional \"reduced risk\" of conventional, expensive, and time-consuming missions [23]. This mindset paves the way for new product development methodologies, such as Agile [36]. In New Space scenarios, the broader concept of resilience may become the primary driver of the mission. In system design, it refers to the ability to perform well in both expected and unexpected occurrences (i.e., robustness), as well as in the event of failures, through functional redundancy or graceful degradation, and to adapt to environmental changes or evolving mission needs (i.e., resourcefulness) [22]. Therefore, the focus is no longer on creating a perfect system, but rather on addressing the need for resilient systems, which leads to the advent of smart space products. To achieve greater autonomy and operational adaptability, particularly in demanding missions and harsh space environments, automated solutions based on advanced robotics and artificial intelligence are increasingly proposed.