Reliability Programs for Commercial Communication Satellites

Abstract

This paper describes reliability programs that are in use for commercial communication satellites. Environmental conditions are presented along with system concerns and design, constraints. Significant procurement policy factors are pointed out, including the development of a request for proposal, contractual provisions, on-site representation of the procuring organization at prime contractor and other facilities, and incentive provisions in contracts. The implementation of procurement policies is discussed from an historic perspective with reference to a present-day list of salient plan elements and experiences that inspired the invoking of these elements. Some of the payoffs of reliability program efforts are mentioned. While the complexity of commercial communications satellites has been increasing, high system reliability has been maintained. As an example, the continuity of service for the INTELSAT space segment has been greater than 0.99995 since 1970. This has been achieved largely through effective reliability programs that have been based on conservative design techniques and stringent product assurance requirements.