ABSTRACT
Satellites are exposed to a unique harsh space environment and often require a 15–20-year longevity to justify their mission life cost. Satellites being "unique one-of-a-kind" systems cannot be replaced, at least until the next launch window which may delay a critical space mission for many years. Thus, all satellite materials and components must be designed, analyzed, built, screened, and tested one hundred percent to perform with no failure for at least the required mission life period. This is even truer for satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that are subjected to harsher environmental conditions due to atmospheric drag, and temperature variations, and are exposed to potentially higher levels of radiation particle flux (during the South Atlantic Anomaly passages). The longevity of satellite components in space is, therefore, a crucial requirement to guarantee the success of the satellite mission. Small satellite parts and materials, often taken for granted in terms of operation, performance, and large quantity, can profoundly affect the overall satellite functionality and reliability if any one of them fails.
David Green / Mark Kettles
Satellite Augmentation, Space debris, and effects of materials used in space study
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