Parametric Study of Environmental Testing in Satellite Manufacturing
Name
johnson-mitch91-mba-mgt-2023-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
3.45 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
8d0e310839dfcf39e5efe25ba7063d60
Author(s)
Johnson, Paul Mitchell
Advisor(s)
Graves, Stephen
Hansman, R. John
Date Issued
June 2023
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Low Earth Orbit Satellite constellations have begun to provide consumers with internet access in remote and under-served areas. Firms have begun to manufacture satellites at a higher rate than ever seen before in the aerospace industry. These satellites require environmental qualification testing to meet the standards required to launch and operate in space. For a new product, it is unclear how much testing capability will be necessary. This paper will provide an in-depth look at efforts to estimate the correct capital expenditure for the purposes of environmental testing for satellite manufacturing. It uses uncertainty analysis and parametric studies to compare options for precision manufacturing in an unknown field of production. The study finds that testing machine requirements vary through different periods of production, challenging the producer to purchase more capacity than will ultimately be necessary. These results highlight the need to develop failure rate predictions at the lowest component level to accurately assess testing requirements for the overall system.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Sloan School of Management
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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
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