Tin (and Other Metal) Whisker Induced Failures
The following section provides a sample of publicly available references describing electronic system failures attributed to metal whiskers (tin, zinc, silver, etc.).  This list is NOT ALL ENCOMPASSING. A Whisker Anecdotes section has also been established to document whisker induced problems where more "formal" publicity is either unavailable or unwanted by the individuals/organizations contributing the information

On-Orbit COMMERCIAL (non-NASA) Satellite Failures 
The following commercial (non-NASA) satellites have reportedly suffered on-orbit failures of their satellite control processors due to tin whisker induced short circuits where the whiskers grew on pure tin plated electromagnetic relays

(Table Information Obtained from: Satellite News Digest)

Articles about Commecial (non-NASA) Satellite Failures:

LAUNCHES OF HUGHES HS 601 SATELLITES READY TO RESUME - (Hughes/Boeing Press Release August 1998)

DirecTV 3: 
Boeing BSS 601 DirecTV 3 Experiences SCP Glitch (Space and Tech.com - May 2002)
Anomaly on DirecTV 3 (Microcom's Space NewsFeed - May 2002)
Anomaly Noted On DIRECTV 3 Satellite (DirecTV Press Release - May 14, 2002)
Processor Problem Continues To Dog Boeing Satellites (e-inSITE.com - May 2002)
Anomaly Noted on DIRECTV 3 Satellite (Hughes Press Release May 2002)

GALAXY VII:
PANAMSAT's GALAXY VII Satellite Ceases Operations: Full-Time Services are Not Affected (PanamSat Nov. 2000)
Galaxy VII Lost (Microcom's Space Newsfeed Nov. 2000)

SOLIDARIDAD 1:
Satmex’s Solidaridad HS 601 Fails (Space and Tech.com September 4, 2000)
Mexican Satellite Failure May Be Linked to Past Problem (SpaceViews Aug 2000)
$250 million Mexican satellite goes silent (Florida Today Space Online - Aug. 29, 2000)
Satellite failure causes communications blackoutGALAXY IV
Pager Messages Lost in Space -Crucial Satellite Causes Widespread Trouble - (CNN.com  May 20, 1998)
National Public Radio Story - Satellite (NPR.org May 1998)
S. Silverstein, "Reasons for Failure Lost with Galaxy 4", Space News, Aug. 17-23, 1998, pp. 19-20
B. Nordwall, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aug. 17, 1998, pp. 47

GALAXY III-R
Design flaw surfaces on PanAmSat's Galaxy 3R (Spaceflight Now.com - April 24, 2001)
Galaxy IIIR Shifts to Backup Control After Failure (Space and Tech.com - April 23, 2001)

Military Failures

1. Military Airplane:  G. Davy, "Relay Failure Caused by Tin Whiskers", Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems Technical Article, October 2002

2. Patriot Missile:  Anoplate WWW Site:  Suspected tin whisker related problems (Fall 2000)

3. Phoenix Air to Air Missile:  L. Corbid, "Constraints on the Use of Tin Plate in Miniature Electronic Circuits", Proceedings 3^rd International SAMPE Electronics Conference, pp. 773-779, June 20-22, 1989.

4. F-15 Radar:  B. Nordwall, "Air Force Links Radar Problems to Growth of Tin Whiskers", Aviation Week and Space Technology, June, 20, 1986, pp. 65-70

5. U.S. Missile Program:  J. Richardson, and B. Lasley, "Tin Whisker Initiated Vacuum Metal Arcing in Spacecraft Electronics," Proceedings 1992 Government Microcircuit Applications Conference, Vol. XVIII, pp. 119 - 122, November 10 - 12, 1992.

6. U.S. Missile Program:  K Heutel and R. Vetter, "Problem Notification: Tin Whisker growth in electronic assemblies", Feb. 19, 1988, memorandum

Medical Equipment Failures

1. Heart Pacemaker Recall Food and Drug Administration March 1986

2.  Apnea Monitor Failures:  J. Downs, "The Phenomenon of Zinc Whisker Growth and the Rotary Switch (or, How the Switch Industry Captured the Abominable Snowman)", Metal Finishing, August 1994, pp. 23-25  NOTE:  This issue is a ZINC Whisker failure!

Industrial/Power

1. Westinghouse Nuclear Tech Bulletin TB-05-4, "Potential Tin Whiskers on Printed Circuit Board Components", June 8, 2005

2. Westinghouse Nuclear Tech Bulletin TB-02-5, "(Tin Whiskers on Potentiometers used in) Basler Power Supplies", July 12, 2002

3. P. Daddona, "Reactor Shutdown: Dominion Learns Big Lesson from a Tiny Tin Whisker", The Day (New London, CT), July 4, 2005

4. C. Stevens, "Relay Failures Induced by the Growth of Tin Whiskers:  A Case Study", IEEE Boston Reliability Chapter 38th Annual Spring Reliability Symposium, May 16, 2001
5. GE Power Management, "Technical Service Bulletin:  Tin Whiskers in MOD10 Relays", March 27, 2000
6. Dr. B. Chudnovsky, "Degradation of Power Contacts in Industrial Atmosphere: Silver Corrosion and Whiskers", 48th IEEE Holm Conference on Electrical Contacts 2002
   NOTE:  This is a SILVER Whisker Issue!
7. 2-Way Radio Receiver Sensitivity Issue Due to Metal Whiskers, HAM Radio Forum, Kevin Custer (W3KKC)

Computer Servers / Routers / Power Supplies / etc

1. "What Nasty Little Things are Lurking Inside Your Data Center?" (Source:  Unisys World Monthly--November 2002) 
   NOTE:  This issue is a ZINC Whisker failure!
2. See the ZINC WHISKER section of this www site for LOTS of articles attributing system failures to ZINC WHISKERS from Raised Access Floor Tiles

DISCLAIMER:
This website provides information about tin whiskers and related research. The independent research performed during the past 50+ years is so vast that it is impractical to cover all aspects of tin whiskers in this one resource. Therefore, the absence of information in this website about a particular aspect of tin whiskers should NOT be construed as evidence of absence.

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