Thermal Analysis: GOES-U Satellite Completes Environmental Testing
Industry Related News: United States
Expected to reach over 22,000 miles above Earth, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-U) from NOAA recently reached a significant milestone. With a focus on ensuring stability, especially during launch, GOES-U underwent an extensive testing process. Vital to this process was thorough thermal analysis, where the satellite’s ability to withstand extreme temperature changes was measured in a thermal vacuum chamber.
Over the course of nearly a year, GOES-U was subjected to a wide range of tests. However, thermal testing was the first on this list. The satellite was placed within a 29-foot wide by 65-foot deep thermal vacuum chamber, where it was exposed to temperatures ranging from 188 degrees Fahrenheit (87 degrees Celsius) to negative 67 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 55 degrees Celsius). This simulation mirrored the thermal conditions of both launch and the space environment, assessing GOES-U’s capacity to maintain functionality.
Following thermal vacuum testing and thermal analysis, GOES-U was put through vibration testing. This mimicked the stress experienced during launch, ensuring the satellite’s structural integrity could withstand the process. Along with acoustic testing and more, these tests ensure that the satellite can survive its upcoming launch.
After this series of tests, GOES-U underwent shock testing to see how it would perform during the separation from the launch vehicle and the deployment of its solar panels. Electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC) testing concluded the environmental testing program, ensuring that GOES-U’s electronic systems remain unaffected by various types of electromagnetic radiation during its operations.
The completion of GOES-U’s thermal analysis testing not only signifies a significant step forward in satellite technology but also highlights NOAA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. As GOES-U finishes testing, the team aims for an April 2024 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The GOES-R Series continues to create a new era of weather observation and environmental monitoring.
nedis.noaa.gov, “NOAA’s GOES-U Completes Environmental Testing”, Accessed November 29
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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 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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This revolutionary system combines a thermal source and custom or standard chamber into one system. The interchangeable chamber feature of the ELI-1000 allows users to easily accommodate their varying industry needs. The patented technology in the ELI-1000 allows for a steady state operation with a heating/cooling system that can be operated and controlled independently of each other.
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