Testing satellite control systems with drones

Abstract

In space, it is usually not possible to repair equipment when things go wrong. While astronauts ventured into space aboard the Space Shuttle to repair the infamously flawed Hubble Space Telescope, these types of repair missions are extremely expensive and rare. Limited repair options make spacecraft engineers turn their attention to reliability in an attempt to avoid failures altogether. Building a reliable system starts with a robust design, incorporates proven parts, and—most importantly—involves a lot of testing.