Risk, safety and reliability in satellite operations: the intellectual structure of a research field

Space operations are inherently complex and strictly dependent on the optimization of technical aspects. By reviewing over thirty years of literature in the field of risk and safety management for satellite operations, this paper offers an extensive meta-analysis which aims at epitomizing the field through meaningful arrangements of its key contributions. The analysis encompasses over 3600 documents, which have been discussed using bibliometric indicators, i.e. citations and co-citations. Combining quantitative meta-analysis with Factor Analysis, this document aims to holistically summarize the main contributions in the field of risk, safety, and reliability in relation to satellite and CubeSat operations. The research provides the basis for suggesting future research paths and for setting new potential research questions, implying an active collaboration between academia and industrial practice. Particular reference is devoted to the benefits of expanding the research interests in satellite operations with systematic and publicly shared repositories for reliability purposes, following an example taken from the CubeSat domain.