Spacecraft design
[1][2] Throughout spacecraft design, potential risks are rigorously identified, assessed, and mitigated, systems components are properly integrated and comprehensively tested.
An iterative process of reviews and testing is continuously employed to refine, optimize and enhance the design's effectiveness and reliability.
[1][2] Regulatory compliance, adherence to International standards, designing for a sustainable, debris-free space environment are some other considerations that have become important in recent times.
The distinctive nature and the unique needs and constraints related to each of them significantly impact spacecraft design considerations.
Recent developments in spacecraft design include electric propulsion systems (e.g. ion thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters) for high-specific-impulse propulsion, solar sails (using solar radiation pressure) for continuous thrust without the need for traditional rockets,[3] additive manufacturing (3D printing) and advanced materials (e.g. advanced composites, nanomaterials and smart materials) for rapid prototyping and production of lightweight and durable components, artificial intelligence and machine learning-assisted autonomous systems for spacecraft autonomy and improved operational efficiency in long and faraway missions, in situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies for extraction and utilization of local resources on celestial bodies, and CubeSats and other standardized miniature satellites[3] for cost-effective space missions around Earth.
Furthermore, international collaboration and partnerships between space agencies, organizations, and countries help share expertise, resources, and capabilities for the mutual benefit of all parties.
The challenges of spacecraft design drive technological innovation and engineering breakthroughs in professional and industrial sectors.
This is for a large part due to the challenging space environment, but also to the lack of basic R&D, and other cultural factors within the design community.
On the other hand, another reason for slow space travel application design is the high energy cost, and low efficiency, for achieving orbit.
The propellant commonly used is a compressed gas like nitrogen, a quid a such as monopropellant hydrazine or solid fuel, which is used for velocity corrections and attitude control.
The designer even calculates the required spacecraft performance characteristics such as pointing, thermal control, power quantity, and duty cycle.
Spacecraft may have several bodies or they are attached to important parts, such as solar arrays or communication antennas which need individual attitude pointing.
The various types of control techniques used are:[citation needed] Telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) is used for communication between spacecraft and the ground systems.
[citation needed] A few spacecraft communicate using lasers—either directly to the ground as with LADEE; or between satellites as with OICETS, Artemis, Alphabus, and the European Data Relay System.
Other considerations include fast or slow trajectories, payload makeup and capacity, length of the mission, or the level of system redundancy so that the flight can achieve various degrees of fault-tolerance.
