Industry Related News: United States – March, 2022:
According to Aerospace Testing International, “space transportation company Momentus has recently completed the thermal vacuum testing of its first space vehicle called Vigoride.” This testing phase comes in advance of it’s proposed upcoming launch in June with the goal of eventually offering “in-space infrastructure services, transportation, hosted payloads and in-orbit services using the space tug.” This launch will send the unit into Low Earth Orbit on a SpaceX rocket.
This phase of Thermal Vacuum Testing (TVAC) helps the Momentus team assess how the craft will perform in simulated space conditions. The vacuum testing is part of an overall evaluation of the avionics, propulsion, and software in order to help “ensure that all Vigoride spacecraft systems are ready for operation in space.”
Rob Schwarz, Momentus’ chief technology officer, echoes the importance of the thermal vacuum testing phase by stating that this is where “we test to learn, push, advance our technology, and find anything to address prior to launch.” Schwarz would go on to say that the relatively few anomalies experienced during the TVAC round are “a testament to the diligence of a talented team.”
As “Vigoride” prepares for it’s upcoming launch into Low Earth Orbit, where it will see temperature swings from 60 to -150° C, thermally cycling as much as 9000 times per year (Source), it is without question that all testing phases will be critical. The next and final testing stage of this space vehicle prior to launch will be the vibration testing.
While Momentus still needs to clear necessary government licensing (including the FAA), the testing leading up to the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch in June will show the team if the craft is ready. Without thermal vacuum testing, none of this would be achievable.
Sampson, Ben. Aerospace Testing International, “Momentus’ Vigoride vehicle completes thermal vacuum testing“ aerospacetestinginternational.com, Accessed 31 March 2022.
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