The magnetic field plays a pivotal role in many fields of Astrophysics. This is especially true for the physics of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere is crucial to understand the nature of the underlying physical processes that drive the violent dynamics of the solar coronathat can also affect life on Earth.SolmeX, a fully equipped solar space observatory for remote-sensing observations, will provide the first comprehensive measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere. The mission consists of two spacecraft, one carrying the instruments, and another one in formation flight at a distance of about 200 m carrying the occulter to provide an artificial total solar eclipse. This will ensure high-quality coronagraphic observations above the solar limb SolmeX integrates two spectro-polarimetric coronagraphs for off-limb observations, one in the EUV and one in the IR, and three instruments for observations on the disk. The latter comprises one imaging polarimeter in the EUV for coronal studies, a spectro-polarimeter in the EUV to investigate the low corona, and an imaging spectro-polarimeter in the UV for chromospheric studies.SOHO and other existing missions have investigated the emission of the upper atmosphere in detail (not considering polarization), and as this will be the case also for missions planned for the near future. Therefore it is timely that SolmeX provides the final piece of the observational quest by measuring the magnetic field in the upper atmosphere through polarimetric observations.

Concurrent Engineering (CE) in the space sector is an effective collaborative development approach for space mission architectures or system design. It involves each appropriate discipline and follows a structured process which guides the team through the early phases of the product life-cycle. Furthermore, integrated design models and domain specific tools support the engineers in generating and exchanging design parameters. As is often misunderstood, Concurrent Engineering is not a design optimization performed by advanced software, but is a team effort where the product development is supported by tools but decisions still made by people. During feasibility studies of space craft design within the "Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF)" of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) there is a certain set-up of domains each dealing with their respective hard-and software tools. Within the present paper the cases of human-to-human and human-to-machine interaction during the iterative design process is discussed. The focus is set on the interaction between and within the different parties during both the plenary and off-line design sessions. The importance of guided communication and the value of specific and common tool utilization is pointed out. Furthermore, the challenges, constraints, potential improvements and stumbling blocks are identified when dealing with a heterogeneous team of experts in such early design phases.

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