Despite years of research by electronics assemblers, the problem of tin whiskers defies an easy solution. And the stakes are high, to say the least. Since 1992, tin whiskers have been blamed for the complete failure of three commercial satellites and the partial disabling of four others.
By all accounts, the latest mission of the space shuttle Discovery in July was a success. Before the launch, however, some engineers argued that the shuttle should not have taken off at all.