Adaptation of Manufacturing to Mass Production of Nanosatellites

Production of satellites in the United States has largely converged on a business model which focuses on large, highly capable units, engineered for exquisite performance, high mission assurance and long lifespans. As the capability of nanosatellite components matures, opportunities emerge to exploit these new technologies to develop disaggregated tactical support systems for the warfighter which would be low cost, survivable and responsive to individual needs. Raytheon, in concert with other vendors and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has brought into existence automated production facilities designed for this purpose, which maintain the capability to produce nanosatellites such as SeeMe and Phoenix satlets concurrently. The development of this manufacturing capability permits short term production runs of satellites as needed with a fraction of the cost of a dedicated production line. Detailed work flows derived from robotic work instructions provide a sound basis for assembly simulations, establishing confidence in unit price and schedule. A detailed account of this automated assembly line, along with current expansion plans is discussed, providing insight into future production capabilities