Independent software verification and validation is an engineering practice intended to improve the quality and reduce costs of a software product. It is most successful if it saves the mission by finding a fault not discovered through the developer's own quality systems.

DNV is currently leading a project on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), developing a guide for independent verification and validation of software. This work led to the recent contract where software verification and validation is performed for the Aeolus satellite, which is being built for ESA by Astrium Ltd. The satellite will provide global observations of wind profiles to improve the quality of weather forecasts, and advance our understanding of atmospheric dynamics and climate change processes.

The ESA, America's NASA and Japan's Jaxa/Jamss routinely require independent verification and validation for critical software. DNV has been asked by ESA to consolidate a methodology that represents the best industry practice across industries. The main result from the project will be an independent software verification and validation guide that is sufficiently generic to be useful in all industries. The project is being carried out in cooperation with Denmark's Terma, the UK's SciSys and Portugal's Critical Software, and it will be completed this autumn.