For all space mission related instruments developed by the \acs{ETPH} and throughout the design process, certain margins are applied to the various elements, which the planned instrument will later consist of. The process of applying margins is generally being performed in order to define the maximum fluctuation range certain material or parts' parameters can take. Working with these maximum or minimum thresholds makes it possible to create the interacting components of an instrument, although it just being in a conceptual state. \newline
The following margins are applied to mass estimations, derived from EIDA-2656\cite{solo-eida}: The PI shall apply the following contingency factors due to uncertainty and/or
\item$<=$5\% for “Off-The-Shelf” items \(ECSS Category: A / B\)\newline OR \newline for manufatured/ machined parts which have successfully passed a relevant verifiction test.
\item$<=$10\% for “Off-The-Shelf” items requiring minor modifications \(ECSS Category: C\)\newline OR \newline in case of manufactured/ machined parts which have successfully been manufactured/ machined and where all related processes have been proven to deliver good repeated manufacturing accuracy.
\item$<=$20\% for newly designed / developed items, or items requiring major modifications or re-design \(ECSS Category: D\)\newline OR \newline to all to be manufactured/ machined parts which are under design process and have not yet proven a reliable process workflow.
Furthermore we implement EIDA-1906\cite{solo-eida} in our mass estimations: The PI shall ensure that the following margin philosophy for mass, power and