The Supply Chain in Tiers: Primes, Subsystems, Parts and Materials
How is the space supply chain organised, and where in it do bottlenecks form?
Chapter summary
the chain has four tiers.
Key takeaways
- 1
At the top, primes and integrators design and assemble satellites and launch vehicles.
- 2
Below them, subsystem suppliers make finished units such as optical terminals, reaction wheels, star trackers and thrusters.
- 3
Below them, part makers produce processors, solar cells, batteries, connectors and RF chips.
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