Product Assurance (PA) defines and implements quality requirements for SRON space projects. Typical project environmental aspects are:

• duration of the projects, typically 10 years,
• the vast number of partners involved,
• no exchange of funds between partners,
• complex, high reliability instruments in space environment.

Involving PA from the beginning of project gives the project an essential jump-start to produce flight standard hardware and/or software.

PA profound knowledge of quality systems such as the adaption of the European Cooperation on Space Standarization (ECSS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) standards is vital for succesful PA program tailoring, definition and implementation.