The potential positive impact of reconfigurable components on aerospace and defense systems is enormous as traditional, costly, functionally rigid system designs become increasingly challenged in meeting the needs of the 21st century. There are two competing (yet complimentary) areas that stand to revolutionize the space community. The first is modern reconfigurable electronics (FPGAs and microcontrollers) and the second is smaller spacecraft. The merger of these two capabilities produces the ability to rapidly produce smaller cheaper and more capable nanosatellites.

Long lead times are traditionally associated with the implementation of new architectures & technologies for reconfigurable electronics and microsystems in the space community. COSMIAC intends to reduce these lead times and make these technologies available for responsive insertion into new space systems.