Session
Technical Poster Session 5
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
The project implementation of a CubeSat System may have many risks which negatively impact aspects such as technical performance, system safety, cost, and schedule. To increase mission success, we may apply a risk management process. The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT) CubeSat Project is a scientific mission to address the space weather problem of understanding the preconditions leading to equatorial plasma bubbles. SPORT is an international partnership between institutions from the United States of America and Brazil. The present research focuses on risk management activities from the point of view of the ITA Space Center in Brazil. There is some research regarding risks in Small Satellite and CubeSat projects. However, risks related to relationships among stakeholders, as well as organizational and external risks are not considered. A risk management process compatible with NASA’s handbook and procedures is presented. The results of the application of this risk management process during the final design and assembly, integration, and testing phases are assessed and results are presented and discussed. International partnerships increase the complexity of a project and have associated risks. Besides that, there are risks related to the acquisition of small satellite subsystems and components. For instance, the relationship with suppliers from the point of view of an organization in a developing country may present risks related to lead time, quality assurance, export, and import processes, as well as currency exchange rate variations. Another important aspect to consider is the importance of organizational factors and external risks and events which may impact the project. An example of an external risk event that severely impacted the project is the international pandemic. A risk management approach may facilitate communication and decision-making among international partners.
Lessons Learned from the Application of Risk Management Process to SPORT CubeSat Project
Utah State University, Logan, UT
The project implementation of a CubeSat System may have many risks which negatively impact aspects such as technical performance, system safety, cost, and schedule. To increase mission success, we may apply a risk management process. The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT) CubeSat Project is a scientific mission to address the space weather problem of understanding the preconditions leading to equatorial plasma bubbles. SPORT is an international partnership between institutions from the United States of America and Brazil. The present research focuses on risk management activities from the point of view of the ITA Space Center in Brazil. There is some research regarding risks in Small Satellite and CubeSat projects. However, risks related to relationships among stakeholders, as well as organizational and external risks are not considered. A risk management process compatible with NASA’s handbook and procedures is presented. The results of the application of this risk management process during the final design and assembly, integration, and testing phases are assessed and results are presented and discussed. International partnerships increase the complexity of a project and have associated risks. Besides that, there are risks related to the acquisition of small satellite subsystems and components. For instance, the relationship with suppliers from the point of view of an organization in a developing country may present risks related to lead time, quality assurance, export, and import processes, as well as currency exchange rate variations. Another important aspect to consider is the importance of organizational factors and external risks and events which may impact the project. An example of an external risk event that severely impacted the project is the international pandemic. A risk management approach may facilitate communication and decision-making among international partners.
