Industry Related News: United States – April, 2022:
With launch coming up in August of 2022, the Psyche spacecraft has been thoroughly tested against the conditions it will be greeted by in space. From extreme temperatures to violent launches, the conditions are no small feat. Luckily, NASA’s thermal chamber was up to the task of verifying whether or not Psyche would perform as expected once it leaves the atmosphere.
Testing initially began in December with an electromagnetic test, which allowed scientists to verify that the craft will perform fine when faced with the electrical/magnetic conditions found in space. Should interference occur, the craft may not perform as expected, leading to a costly failure.
After this test was completed, the craft was ushered into JPL’s thermal chamber. This colossal chamber measures over 85 feet tall and 25 feet wide, allowing for testing to be conducted on a wide range of spacecraft. Once the craft enters the thermal chamber, all the air is removed from inside to mimic the atmosphere of space. Essentially, this vacuum eliminates the movement of air, which impacts the flow of heat/temperature here on Earth.
Additionally, the craft will be facing unimaginable temperatures: ranging from around -450 degrees Fahrenheit to upwards of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermal chamber testing took 18 days, where engineers altered the temperature of the chamber to mimic these harsh conditions. The Psyche spacecraft is equipped with many options to regulate temperature, from insulation blankets to heaters. All of these must be extensively tested to ensure that the craft will operate properly once it leaves the planet’s surface.
Not only does the thermal chamber test endurance, it also provides scientists with a more thorough understanding of how the craft will perform – allowing them to better understand how the craft is doing in space. Additional testing has since been conducted and continues today, all in preparation for its upcoming launch.
Thanks to thermal testing, NASA makes one giant step towards better understanding our universe. We cannot wait to see how the craft performs and what information it uncovers come August.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “Shake and Bake: NASA’s Psyche Is Tested in Spacelike Conditions“ jpl.nasa.gov, Accessed 25 April 2022.
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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 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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