First Analog Tests with ASTRA Framework Reveal Gaps - And That’s a Promising result
The first field tests of the ASTRA test framework inside the Lunares analog habitat have delivered what every quality engineer secretly hopes for: unexpected risks. We uncovered the underlying problem behind the testing: we lacked proper preparation, plan, and strategy.
This is a clear indication that the risk-based approach is the right one. It allows you to take a step back and examine not only the software, hardware or procedures but also the testing itself. We’re testing in the right place with the correct method.
ASTRA Framework in Action
The ASTRA framework, developed under the AstraLabs initiative, is built around a risk-based testing philosophy. Rather than checking boxes or validating against static specs, it focuses on:
Identifying critical failure points
Mapping system behaviours under stress
Prioritizing test efforts where real mission risk lives
When deployed in Lunares, this meant subjecting software tools, communication procedures, and operational protocols to the friction of real-world analog simulation. It worked. Maybe too well.
Grey Zones and Risk-spotting
The tests revealed something that lab simulations often miss: grey spaces. These are areas in a procedure, handoff, or interaction where no one is responsible and no existing test case applies. They often arise at the seams — between:
System and human
Manual and automated steps
Mission planning and mission improvisation
In this case, several procedures were found to leave critical decisions underspecified, which could lead to ambiguity in high-pressure mission moments. This procedure influenced how we performed the testing and obstructed the quality of the test data delivered.
A Framework Worth Trusting
Rather than being a sign of weakness, these findings confirm the strength of the ASTRA approach. By targeting risk, not coverage, and running tests in human-centric, high-fidelity conditions, we catch issues early when they’re still malleable.
What’s more, we identified new areas in which the framework should excel:
Crew training flow
Communication confirmation steps
Automated fallback procedures
A New Kind of Progress
This test marks a turning point in how we think about validation. It’s no longer enough to pass simulated unit tests from behind a desk. We must expose our tools to the ambiguity, fatigue, timing, and texture of real-world use. That’s what AstraLabs achieved by connecting Lunares and Testspring. This collaboration highlights the new cooperation model the space sector will likely follow.
In space, test coverage means not much. The real goal is the Safety of the crew and mission success. To achieve that, we must always mitigate critical Risks. And it requires a holistic approach.