ACOUSTIC TESTING

STUDENT NAME

AFFILIATION

PROFESSOR

SUBMISSION DATE

Type 2 testing

Type 2 testing is carried out once the design has been approved and is the initial qualification of the system. This test is where satellite equipment and subsystems undergo functional and environmental tests, which is done when preproduction prototype equipment software formal procedure is available. The system is defined as qualified if it passes the Critical Design Review where the Flight model that will go into space is built. This is done after completion of performance tests, environmental qualification tests, reliability qualification, maintenance demonstration, and system compatibility testing [3].

Performance test

This test is done before and after the environmental test to verify individual performance characteristic this is according to “Surviving Orbit the DIY Way: Testing the Limits Your Satellite Can and Must Match Book 2 of DIY satellites. Its main aim is to ascertain that satellites and subsystems can provide necessary output, fluid pressure capabilities and airplane success mission [1:15-49]. This ensures that equipment’s or sub equipment levels are not subjected to degraded performances. The necessary output should understand whether a river crossing bridge can handle expected traffic flow or a production process will provide an effective widget per given period or health care facility can process a number of patients in a given time.

Environmental qualification [1] understands that solar vacuum tests can be used as it simulates the orbital environment for maintenance, transportation and handling functions which include factors such as temperature cycling, shock vibration humidity, wind, salt, spray dust, pollution emission, explosion proofing and electromagnetic interference. The use of thermal vacuum test helps simulate satellite flight model of conditions such as extreme temperature and pressure.

Structural test

The acoustic vibration test and sinusoidal vibration test are done to verify the vibration noise by launcher generated and to check whether the material characteristics can withstand, strain, fatigue, bending, torsion and general decomposition during launch.

Reliability qualification test

Functional test can be carried out to ensure satellite is operating as it should be. Validation of procedure is also carried to ensure equipment safety and evaluate degradation and determine the modes of failure.

Maintainability demonstration

They are conducted in one or more systems to access Mean correlative maintenance time, mean preventative maintenance time, maintenance labor hour per operating hour and mean active maintenance time.

Support equipment compatibility tests

This may include the electrical compatibility test that ensures compatibility between the equipment’s and subsystems are operating efficiently. This helps verify the compatibility between the prime equipment’s test support equipment’s and handling equipment’s.

Personal test and valuation

This test evaluates the personnel’s individual qualities and skills mandated for the flight. It tests the relationship between people and equipment through various simulation modes to gauge performance under different situations. It also verifies the relationship between the people and the equipment as well as the software. This helps determine the amount of training needed for the personnel to operate the satellite.

Technical data verification

This can be assisted through electrical system checks signal transmit ion from one part of a system is understood and received by another. This assists in the operational and maintenance procedures being effectively communicates to the ground systems.

Software verification

Software tests uses programs that communicate between themselves and the ground segment through a central flight software. They Software Units such as Computer System Configuration Items, hardware and software compatibility to verify information is transmitted as it should be. The Software is linked to ground segment commands and monitors the satellite and ensures verification and maintenance software is accomplished.

Supply chain element compatibility test

This is used to verify whether packaging, handling methods, transportation, distribution modes, warehousing, storage methods and procurement approaches are done efficiently.

Compatibility test

Antunes considered the RF compatibility test that checks the equipment’s and subsystems assumes the role of checking the operating efficiently with active use of the RF transmitters [1:19-35]. He also argues that) the electromagnetic compatibility test is used to measure interference levels and identifies whether equipment and subsystems require additional design when slightly subjected to increased level of interference.

Acoustic Testing

Acoustic testing is generally a means of carrying out noise and vibration studies for satellites or spacecraft’s by subjecting them to tough testing conditions replicating the expected conditions during launch. The reason is to mimic the extreme conditions of outer space and extreme launch conditions to reduce damage of the system components. This can be done by the use of Structural and thermal model and engineering models units that will be subjected replicated conditions during launch as argued by Torino [2].

Acoustic test is mainly done in large volume reverberation chambers where the noise generated by the launch is simulated and checks whether the satellite can withstand the stress levels. This is done by creating conditions that are a quarter more severe than lift off and it’s done by multi-shaker tests. This depends on size and payload of the satellite, to ensure vibration data is acquired from all locations of the satellite. Qualification tests and stress testing are carried out to ensure satellite survival and capture of vibration and noise data.

tests are run on a degree of freedom simulations which are run on large payloads. The channels used however might be subjected to unlimited channel count and the use of swept sine is a critical test in applying limited channels [2]. The use of Microphones as a measuring device are required to be calibrated at high sound pressure levels. The test ensures that the system is properly tested and due to the test can face high electromagnetic radiation and dramatic temperature changes before launching a satellite.

Reference

[1] S. Antunes, surviving orbit the DIY way. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, 2012.

[2] W. Ley, K. Wittmann and W. Hallmann, Handbook of space technology. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2009.

[3] B. Elbert, The satellite communication applications handbook. Norwood, MA: Artech House, 2004