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Microtechnologies for Space Systems 125

6.4 CONCLUSION

Given launch costs ranging from approximately $10,000/pound for LEO to as much
as $1M/pound for deep space missions, there is no question that the high degree
miniaturization afforded by MNT-based devices and systems is key to enabling
the faster, better, and cheaper missions of tomorrow. Although there exists a
large diversity of space-related applications, there is an equally large diversity of
MNT, thus ensuring that nearly every MNT-based solution is guaranteed to find a
home in future space missions. However, the infamous ‘‘mid-TRL gap’’ represents
the single biggest obstacle to the infusion of a much broader range of micro- and
nanotechnologies, than the lucky few that have been selected to date. For
rapid and cost-effective infusion of MNT into space applications, a coordinated
technology development approach, via a TMT-like mechanism proposed above, is
essential. Furthermore, cheap and rapid access to space testing via novel spacecraft
platforms such as the PICOSAT or CubeSats will ensure that the ‘‘infant mortality’’
rate of MNT remains low.

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