Designing equipment for low-gravity operations requires addressing several unique factors
# '''Mass and volume constraints''': Space missions have strict limitations on [[payload]] mass and volume, necessitating compact and lightweight designs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Werkheiser |first=Mary J. |last2=Fiske |first2=Michael |last3=Edmunson |first3=Jennifer |last4=Khoshnevis |first4=Behrokh |date=2015-08-31 |title=On The Development of Additive Construction Technologies for Application to Development of Lunar/Martian Surface Structures Using In-Situ Materials |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2015-4451 |journal=AIAA 2015-4451 Session: Space Habitat Construction Methods |language=en |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |doi=10.2514/6.2015-4451 |isbn=978-1-62410-334-6}}</ref>
# '''Automation and remote operation''': Many processes must be designed for [[Autonomous robot|autonomous]] or remote operation due to limited human presence in space environments.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sheridan |first=T.B. |date=October 1993 |title=Space teleoperation through time delay: review and prognosis |url=http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/258052/ |journal=IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=592–606 |doi=10.1109/70.258052}}</ref>
# '''Reliability and redundancy''': The inaccessibility of space environments demands highly reliable systems with built-in [[Redundancy (engineering)|redundancies]] to mitigate potential failures.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://isulibrary.isunet.edu/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=10279 |title=Space Safety and Human Performance |date=2017-11-10 |isbn=978-0-08-101869-9 |language=en-US}}</ref>
# '''Microgravity-specific mechanisms''': Equipment must often incorporate novel mechanisms to replace gravity-dependent functions, such as pumps for fluid transport or [[centrifuge]]s for separation processes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schwartzkopf |first=S. H. |date=1992 |title=Design of a controlled ecological life support system: regenerative technologies are necessary for implementation in a lunar base CELSS |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11537405/ |journal=Bioscience |volume=42 |issue=7 |pages=526–535 |issn=0006-3568 |pmid=11537405}}</ref>
# '''Multi-functionality''': Due to resource constraints, equipment is often designed to serve multiple purposes, increasing complexity but reducing overall payload requirements.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Menezes |first=Amor A. |last2=Cumbers |first2=John |last3=Hogan |first3=John A. |last4=Arkin |first4=Adam P. |date=2015-01-06 |title=Towards synthetic biological approaches to resource utilization on space missions |url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2014.0715 |journal=Journal of The Royal Society Interface |language=en |volume=12 |issue=102 |pages=20140715 |doi=10.1098/rsif.2014.0715 |issn=1742-5689 |pmc=PMC4277073 |pmid=25376875}}</ref>
