Spacecraft on-orbit deployment anomalies: What can be done?

摘要

On-orbit anomalies related to the deployment of spacecraft appendage and possible causes of such failures are considered. The discussion covers mechanical launch loading, on-orbit thermal and solar concerns, reliability of spacecraft pyrotechnics, and practical limitations of ground-based deployment testing. Lessons learned from the successful recovery of the Telesat Canada Anik-E2 satellite in 1991 are examined.