Damon Telecom is designing a new workhorse satellite to eventually replace all the orbital satellites it manages in its telecommunication network. The design of this satellite consists of five interdependent subsystems, as indicated here: 

The satellites Damon currently has in place use subsystems that are 99% reliable over a 10-year period, but Damon Telecom is annoyed to have already lost use of two of these older satellites. Some managers argue that the new generation of satellites should feature two computers and two solar arrays, duplicating the two subsystems known to have been lost in Damon's failed satellites. A few argue that the antennae array and transmitter/repeater subsystems represent obsolete satellite design that invites problems: both these systems should be redesigned as one inte- grated system built by one contractor.

a. What is the 10-year reliability of Damon Telecom's current satellite design?

b. If a redundant computer were added, how reliable would the computer sub- system be?

c. If the computer and solar array subsystems were duplicated as proposed, what would be the 10-year reliability of the satellite then?

d. If no redundant elements were added, but the antennae array and transmitter/ repeater were successfully redesigned into a single subsystem with a 10-year reli- ability of 99%, what would be the resulting reliability of the satellite?

Transcribed Image Text:

Antennae array Positioning system Computer Solar array Transmitter/ Repeater