IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orinte/v21y1991i4p141-152.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When Is a Satellite Not a Toaster?

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher A. Feuchter

    (Directorate of Aerospace Studies (AFSC), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117-6008)

  • Kurt M. Neuman

    (Directorate of Aerospace Studies (AFSC), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117-6008)

  • Kalla J. Sparrow

    (ARINC Research Corporation, 2551 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401)

  • Charles A. Van Meter

    (Directorate of Aerospace Studies (AFSC), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117-6008)

Abstract

We repair our automobiles but discard inexpensive appliances at the first sign of trouble: they “cost too much to fix.” Comparing $50M satellites with toasters may seem odd, but the analogy can be appropriate. The too-much-to-fix argument can be used in deciding whether to replace or to repair earth satellites. We investigated (1) when cost considerations dictate using constellations of expendable satellites to be routinely replaced and discarded on failure, and (2) when circumstances indicate using constellations of satellites to be repaired on-orbit by exchanging failed modules.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher A. Feuchter & Kurt M. Neuman & Kalla J. Sparrow & Charles A. Van Meter, 1991. "When Is a Satellite Not a Toaster?," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 141-152, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:21:y:1991:i:4:p:141-152
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.21.4.141
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/inte.21.4.141
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/inte.21.4.141?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:21:y:1991:i:4:p:141-152. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.