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Small spacecraft have become popular for a number of reasons, most prominently the needs to reduce overall cost, be built more quickly, and spread mission risks. NASA has been challenged with crafting a program that continues to produce meaningful science within the constraints of the available budget. Still, pound for pound, small spacecraft are not precisely inexpensive, given the effects of complexity, launch costs, and a greater degree of risk. Historically, science spacecraft have demonstrated increasing reliability, but this trend might not continue, given the shift to managed risk. There is generally less money available to smaller programs to test spacecraft functions and operational procedures prior to launch. Small spacecraft are also generally less robust. Efforts to reduce failure potentials through the application of more reliable components, better testing, and advanced design techniques should receive greater attention. Despite the risks, however, small spacecraft fulfill important roles in earth science, astrophysics, space physics, and planetary science. NASA's current generation of small spacecraft is capable of impressive levels of performance.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter Two
Small Spacecraft in the Civil Space Program
Chapter Three
Meeting National Objectives with Fewer Resources
Chapter Four
Advanced Technology for Small Spacecraft
Chapter Five
Process Improvement and Risk Management
Chapter Six
Evaluating Small Spacecraft Missions
Chapter Seven
Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A
Spacecraft Cost Comparisons
Appendix B
Failure in Spacecraft Systems
Appendix C
Testing for Reliability in Space Systems
Appendix D
High Reliability Systems
Appendix E
New Approaches to Spacecraft Design
Appendix F
Small Spacecraft World Wide Web Links
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