By Fatima Saka
Robust adherence to engineering standards is critical to reducing satellite failures and ensuring mission success as Nigeria and other countries increasingly embrace small satellite development, a space systems engineer has said.
Dr. Taiwo Raphael Tejumola, Lecturer with the Astronautics Research Group, Department of Aero/Astro Engineering, University of Southampton, United Kingdom, made the assertion recently during a webinar organised by the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers (NISEng), a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
The webinar, titled “Mitigating Satellite Failures: The Role of Standards in Small Satellite Development,” examined how standards can improve reliability, safety, efficiency and sustainability in the development and deployment of small satellites.
Tejumola said space systems engineering must place mission success and safety at the centre of satellite and launch-vehicle development, stressing that engineers have a responsibility to ensure that space missions do not endanger people, ground infrastructure, spacecraft or launch vehicles.
According to him, satellite projects face several risks, including launcher failure, loss of communication, failure of solar-panel deployment, radiation damage to critical electronic components and cancellation of projects following political or governmental changes.
He explained that effective risk management requires developers to identify potential risks, assess how likely they are to occur and determine the seriousness of their consequences.
Tejumola also highlighted changing trends in global space programmes, including reduced public funding, increasing emphasis on smaller spacecraft, the growing use of satellite constellations and the push for faster, cheaper and better missions.
He noted that the growing commercialisation of space activities has also increased the importance of reliability, as private companies must protect revenue, customer confidence and market competitiveness.
The engineer identified competitiveness, efficiency, trade facilitation, knowledge transfer and education as major reasons for adopting space standards.
He said standards could make the development, manufacturing and supply of space products and services more efficient and reliable while helping developing countries build engineering capacity and avoid “reinventing the wheel.”
Using CubeSat standards as an example, Tejumola explained that established standards could provide a foundation for engineers and students developing small satellites, thereby improving knowledge transfer and strengthening technical capabilities.
He distinguished standards from regulations and laws, explaining that standards are generally developed through consensus and are voluntary unless incorporated into regulatory or legal requirements.
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The webinar was hosted by Engr. Babalola Kayode Sunday, FNSE, National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers.
The institution said the engagement was aimed at strengthening knowledge and professional capacity around Nigeria’s emerging space ecosystem, particularly as small satellites become increasingly important to space missions.
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