A Preliminary Analysis of the Effect of Work-Arounds on Space System Performance and Procurement Requirements--A Proposal

摘要

This note identifies a factor that appears to have been neglected in explaining the discrepancy between predicted and observed satellite lifetimes in orbit. This factor--extension of satellite life through ingenious 'work-around' corrections--is not represented in current satellite replenishment models. The note explores the effect of this omission on various measures of system performance, develops an analytical method of incorporating these work-arounds in replenishment models, and derives an initial estimate of the required parameters from a convenient data base. Incorporating the effect of work-arounds dramatically improves system performance and lowers procurement requirements. (Author)