Session
Technical Session VII: Quality, Reliability, and Manufacturing
Abstract
This paper describes an innovative approach to testing satellites that reduces test flow time and risk. The approach uses a uniquely designed assembly stand, created by INTRASPACE, that accommodates the satellite assembly process as well as in-place environmental testing. The satellite is assembled, functionally tested and environmentally tested on a single assembly stand platform. The platform rotates in 2-axes to facilitate access to all areas of the spacecraft. For environmental test, a "bell jar" vacuum dome is placed over the spacecraft. Vacuum, Thermal Vacuum and Acoustic Testing are made possible by the modular arrangement of the dome, liquid nitrogen cold walls, quartz heating tubes and high power acoustical transducers. Since the vacuum dome is made of RF transparent material, environmental testing closely simulates the on-orbit operation. For example, this approach permits measurement of the multipacting phenomenon under actual RF link operations. The in-place test concept reduces test setup time, test breakdown time and spacecraft handling. The flow-through time saved during the test is about 250/0. The test parameters were selected using MIL-STD-1540B as a guide. The test stand has been tested to 10-6 TORR and provides for a rotisserie mode during thermal environments.
In-Place Assembly and Testing of Satellites
This paper describes an innovative approach to testing satellites that reduces test flow time and risk. The approach uses a uniquely designed assembly stand, created by INTRASPACE, that accommodates the satellite assembly process as well as in-place environmental testing. The satellite is assembled, functionally tested and environmentally tested on a single assembly stand platform. The platform rotates in 2-axes to facilitate access to all areas of the spacecraft. For environmental test, a "bell jar" vacuum dome is placed over the spacecraft. Vacuum, Thermal Vacuum and Acoustic Testing are made possible by the modular arrangement of the dome, liquid nitrogen cold walls, quartz heating tubes and high power acoustical transducers. Since the vacuum dome is made of RF transparent material, environmental testing closely simulates the on-orbit operation. For example, this approach permits measurement of the multipacting phenomenon under actual RF link operations. The in-place test concept reduces test setup time, test breakdown time and spacecraft handling. The flow-through time saved during the test is about 250/0. The test parameters were selected using MIL-STD-1540B as a guide. The test stand has been tested to 10-6 TORR and provides for a rotisserie mode during thermal environments.
