Lessons Learned for the NASA Mission Solar Dynamics Observatory

As Observatories are designed, built, tested, and launched, they occasionally have unanticipated incidents which can impede the progress towards launch, or affect the final product of a satellite mission. These incidents have the potential to cause minor inconveniences, extra paperwork, schedule hits, extra analysis or in the worst case, performance degradation. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) experienced various types of incidences in different phases of build and launch. The purpose of this study is to discuss the major contamination-related lessons learned during the design, production, testing, and launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory to help future programs avoid similar incidents.