Basic Principles and Mechanical Considerations of Satellites: A Short Review

Abstract

Satellites are used for navigation, communication, oceanography, astronomy, etc.. Satellites come in a diversity of sizes and forms. Depending on the satellite's mission, different subsystems are used. These subsystems are installed inside a housing to protect them from the space environment. This housing, which is also known as the satellite primary structure or mechanical structure, is made of durable materials that can endure severe conditions during launch and in the orbit. The optimisation of satellite mass is crucial right now since satellites are losing mass every day to reduce the cost of manufacturing and launching. This review first introduces an overview of the satellite classifications and subsystems. Then, the different types of mechanical load analysis the satellite subjects itself to are demonstrated. The advanced approaches for promoting the performance of the mechanical structures of satellites are explored, with a spotlight on the effect of the optimisation parameters of isogrid and honeycomb sandwich structures on the mechanical performance of the satellite primary structure. The assembly, integration and testing (AIT) of the small satellite are briefly presented. Finally, the important potential designs to improve the mechanical performance of the satellite primary structure and the challenges of further research are summarised.