Lifetime support process for rapidly changing, technology-intensive systems

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first system that is operable to perform a first function and that is repairable only during predetermined maintenance periods;
• a second system;
• and
• a control system coupled to the first and second systems and operable to cause the second system to perform the first function until the next predetermined maintenance period if the first system fails between maintenance periods.

A method, comprising:

• detecting a failure of a system between predetermined maintenance periods;
• if the system was performing a task before the failure, then performing the task without the system until a next predetermined maintenance period;
• and
• repairing the system during the next predetermined maintenance period.

A method, comprising:

• operating a system for a predetermined period of time without performing maintenance to the system;
• if a first portion of the system performing a function fails during the predetermined period, then causing a second portion of the system to perform the function for a remainder of the predetermined period;
• and
• refreshing the first portion of the system after the predetermined period of time, the refreshing causing the first portion to be repaired if the first portion failed during the predetermined period of time.