Tag: Quality Assurance
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How to Mass-Produce Satellites Like Cars
Imagine walking into two factories. On an automotive assembly line, bodies move forward as wiring harnesses, seats and glass arrive at each workstation in sequence. In a satellite integration facility, engineers gather around a spacecraft to check interfaces, wiring and test records. Some argue that satellites should be built like cars, rolling off an assembly…
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Commercial, Industrial, Standard Military and Space: What These Component Labels Mean, and Where CAST and SAST Parts Lists Fit In
A supplier describes a chip as “space grade.” A procurement specialist wants to know whether it appears on an approved-parts list. At a program review, an engineer asks a different question: Can the device meet mission requirements in this particular circuit position? These questions may sound repetitive, but they are not asking the same thing.…
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What Is “Burn-In,” and Why Do Satellites Need It?
A piece of onboard electronic equipment has just come off the production line. It has passed visual inspection, its insulation and electrical characteristics are normal, and every functional test has been completed successfully. In theory, it should be ready for delivery. Before installing it on a satellite, however, engineers will often keep it powered on…
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From Blueprint to Delivery: The Work Behind a Satellite That Never Appears in Product Photos
On the day of delivery, the people most likely to appear in photos are usually the product, the customer, and the technical leaders. Once testing is completed, the shipping container is sealed, and the handover documents are signed, a product finally moves from the development site to the customer. But outside the camera frame, many…