Development Of Project Specific Hardware*

A. K. Ward et al. (1998), JBIS, 51, pp.371-375

Refcode: 1998.51.371

Abstract:

It has been a commonly held view that small satellites are only useful as technology demonstrators or as experimental platforms. ln recent years, however, it has become clear that small satellites have matured to the point that they can participate in the most exacting scientific and applications missions. Existing and planned small satellite missions now include satellites with high technical and operational specifications, previously associated only with large missions. These next generation small satellite missions are being implemented at significantly lower cost than previous technically equivalent missions by enforcing shorter development timescales, smaller team sizes and reduced documentation, which provides for simpler administrative interfaces and modular, flexible and adaptable designs.