Risk Factors for Pyroshock Qualification Failure of Satellite Hardware

SSL has performed pyroshock qualification testing on a wide array of satellite hardware, including more than 450 tests of propulsion, mechanism, bus electronic, attitude control, RF passive, and RF active units. An analysis of shock-related hardware failures was performed to determine risk factors related to the pyroshock qualification of new units. Specific failure examples are described. The features that put units at highest risk for shock qualification failure include relays, heavy bonded or soldered elements, lightweight structural components, and brittle materials.