Considerations for Micro- and Nano-scale Space Payloads

Abstract

This paper collects and summarizes many of the issues associated with the design, analysis, and flight of space payloads. However, highly miniaturized experimental packages are highly susceptible to the deleterious effects of induced contamination and charged particles when they are directly exposed to the space environment. These two problem areas are addressed and a general discussion of space environments, applicable design and analysis practices (with extensive references to the open literature) and programmatic considerations are presented.