The function of test pilots is to validate things that can only be validated by manual flight testing, like aircraft handling characteristics—not to risk their lives to do QA.

Hmm. I hear ya, but this isn’t what I want test pilots spending effort on.

Test pilots are closer to an integration test in software. You expect the unit tests to pass green before you expect the related integration tests to work.

Multiple failures of maneuvering thrusters is technically a mission failure (in the flight plan sense), despite having nothing to do with the parameters of the mission, nor anything to do with adding humans. Maneuverability is the difference between a craft and junk.

I wouldn’t find this acceptable in a project I was managing or funding. Just sayin! Still impressed as hell.