Industry Related News: United States – July, 2020:
NASA’s newest Mars rover has experienced intense and thorough testing in all categories to ensure that it is prepared to survive in the harshest conditions. Perseverance went through a gauntlet of tests at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In addition to high-force shake and vibration tests, supersonic parachute trials, and a barrage of high decibel sound waves from nitrogen-powered speakers, the rover entered advanced solar and temperature vacuum tests to evaluate its ability to function in the hostile environment of Mars.
To complete the temperature and light tests, the team utilized a 25-foot-wide, 85-foot-tall vacuum chamber to simulate the worst possible sun exposure and climate conditions of our neighboring planet. The team used advanced xenon lamps and mirrors to send sun-like rays towards the rover at different angles to simulate its entrance and daytime operations. The staggering heat of Mars is well documented, but it’s crucial to test for the brutal cold shifts that occur during the night time as well. The massive test chamber was then programmed to operate with an artificially thinned atmosphere similar to Mars’ and sink to temperatures as low as -200° F (-129°C). The thermal cycling test is meant to determine if the rover can complete its tasks over time under extreme conditions, analyzing its hardware and software effects alike. Throughout the week-long process, Perseverance’s programs and mechanical functions continued successfully and the rover proved its namesake correct. After passing the rigorous rounds of vacuum thermal testing, Perseverance has been shipped to Kennedy Space Center to begin the next phase of testing and launch preparation for its journey to Mars. The team at NASA was greatly emboldened by the rover’s successful thermal and environmental test results.
With a passing grade on all major tests, the Mars 2020 Launch occurred on July 30th. The rover is set to land on Mars in the Jezero Crater region on February 18, 2021 and, after its successful testing, should be completing missions for its NASA team for years to come.
NASA, “NASA’s Perseverance Rover Goes Through Trials by Fire, Ice, Light and Sound“ nasa.gov, May 2020, Accessed 28 July 2020.
ABOUT KHOURY INDUSTRIES
Khoury Industries is a worldwide leader in temperature testing equipment for device characterization, thermal cycling equipment, and failure analysis. Khoury Industries designs and manufactures custom thermal testing chambers and microwave thermal testing fixtures used in a variety of industries including: military, space, automotive, medical, research, and communication fields. The Khoury Box and the patented ELI-1000 have quickly become industry favorites as thermal testing devices used to ensure the reliability of industrial and electronic products through prolonged exposure to extreme conditions.
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Penny Aicardi
Khoury Industries
5 Mechanic Street
Bellingham, MA 02019
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