Integration and management challenges for multi-nanosatellite missions

The need for launch opportunities for nanosatellite missions is ever increasing as the number of nanosatellites in development increases. Nanosatellites are typically launched as secondary, also known as auxiliary payloads, on missions to minimize launch costs. This creates managerial and technical challenges for integrating multiple nanosatellite programs as auxiliary payloads with primary missions. The priority of the integration team is to minimize impacts and risks to the primary spacecraft and the launch vehicle that are present with auxiliary satellites. Early identification of requirements for nanosatellites and their deployment devices is necessary to increase the opportunity for success of a nanosatellite rideshare mission. This paper discusses management and integration challenges for nanosatellite missions that are launched as auxiliary payloads on United States launch vehicles and techniques for addressing these challenges.