PISCATAWAY, NJ - The ISTO Space Systems MOSA Interface Standards Alliance, a name that sounds like it was generated by a committee of acronyms, is hosting a webinar on August 26, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM PDT / 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT. The event, titled "MOSA Interoperability Standards for Space Systems," aims to gather the usual suspects - government, industry, and academia - to discuss the thrilling world of modular open system approaches (MOSA). Because nothing says 'cutting-edge space technology' like a webinar about standards.

The Alliance, governed by the Space Systems Command, NASA, and the NRO, is pushing MOSA as more than just a best practice. It's a Department of Defense mandate, per DoD Instruction 5000.88, which requires it "to the maximum extent possible." So, it's mandatory, but only if they feel like it. The goal is plug-and-play interoperability across conforming systems, which sounds great until you remember that in space, 'plug-and-play' usually means 'we'll fix it in the next launch.'

Industry research and defense analyses (NDIA, 2023) suggest that MOSA standards lower lifecycle costs, speed up integration, and help adapt to evolving mission requirements - all while mitigating vendor lock-in and obsolescence. In other words, it's a way to stop being held hostage by the one company that made your proprietary widget. The Alliance is setting industry benchmarks, with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (because why have one acronym when you can have several) providing non-proprietary, technically rigorous requirements development, ensuring standards are sound and widely adoptable.

Attendees can expect insights into agile and digital engineering methods, live demonstrations of MOSA standards in action, and interactive Q&A sessions. That's right, you can ask the experts why space systems still don't just use USB-C like everyone else. This is a must-attend event for program managers, engineers, policymakers, and industry executives - basically anyone who's ever wondered why space tech can't be as interoperable as your average smartphone ecosystem (but without the forced obsolescence).

Formed in 2022, the ISTO Space Systems MOSA Interface Standards Alliance is a collaborative initiative uniting government, industry, and academic partners to develop and promote open interface standards. Their mission: accelerate innovation, reduce costs, and ensure seamless interoperability across the space systems sector. For more information, visit interoperabilityalliance.org, where you can presumably find out how to make things work together. Or you could just email Michelle Hunt at ISTO, Inc. (mosa.webinar@aero.org) and hope she's not too busy scheduling more webinars about standards.