Testing of Satellites After Ground Storage

This paper presents data about the effects of storage, the storage practices of several Space Division programs, and the failures identified by functional and environmental post-storage tests. The failure data are the basis for plots to approximate the risk of orbital failure as a function of storage time for different types of tests. Since the determination of an appropriate test program has to also consider the program impact of conducting a test, no one test program can be recommended. However, some program considerations are discussed. The aim of the paper is to provide data to assist in an informed decision about post-storage testing.