A FRAMEWORK FOR LOADABLE AIRBORNE SYSTEMS The software loading occurs when a new software version corrects previously identified errors to include new functionalities to airborne systems, such as those embedded in aircraft. The available literature has not yet scientifically addressed the characteristics of Loadable Airborne Systems (LASs). Although the RTCA DO-178 introduced the concept of field-loadable software, which is the possibility to update the software without the need to remove the equipment or system from its installation on the aircraft, the industry does not yet have an organized framework of reusable requirements and tests. The objective of this work is to present a new framework for LASs. This framework contains a set of reusable requirements and general test procedures for software loading, involving manual and automatic checks. We believe that our framework can help smaller companies, especially market entrants, to incorporate software loading capacity into system development. This work also includes the identification of threats involving safety and security. RESEARCH ON ABNORMAL OUTPUT CURRENT DROP OF SOLAR ARRAY OF A LOW EARTH ORBIT SATELLITE This article describes the phenomenon of the abnormal output current drop of a solar array (SA) of a low Earth orbit satellite. All possible failure causes were analyzed in detail and the most likely reason was determined to be an open-circuit in solar cell interconnectors. The failure mechanisms were comprehensively analyzed from three aspects: solar cell replacement process, erosion of atomic oxygen, and thermal fatigue. The analysis results were verified by corresponding ground tests. For the on-orbit failure, a solution to slow down the output current drop of SA was given and verified to be effective by ground remote control operations on the satellite on orbit. The improvement measures for the development of SAs to avoid the output current drop are also proposed. MAY 2021 IEEE A&E SYSTEMS MAGAZINE 5