Industry Related News: United States – December 2022:
The GOES-U satellite, the final component of the NOAA’s (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin) GOES-R series of satellites, recently underwent extensive thermal vacuum testing. This rigorous testing process was conducted in preparation for the satellite’s expected launch sometime in 2024. While it may seem like preparation has started very early, the team at NOAA needs the time to conduct extensive testing to ensure that the craft will be able to survive in the harsh conditions of space – some 22,236 miles away from Earth.
The satellite was designed with the goal of being able to provide vital data for weather forecasts, including warnings, environmental hazards (fire, volcanic ash, solar activity, etc.), and much more. The thermal vacuum testing process itself was conducted in Littleton, Colorado. This is also where the GOES-U was built.
The thermal vacuum testing process itself included exposing the satellite to temperatures ranging from 188 degrees to around negative 67 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range, accomplished within a thermal vacuum chamber, simulates the environment found in space. This testing process is vital, as it exposes any weaknesses in the craft. Will the craft overheat? Will it stop operating when temperatures drop? Questions like these, and much more, are answered within the thermal vacuum chamber. GOES-U went through four rounds of testing, ensuring that it was up to the challenge of operating outside of Earth’s atmosphere.
After completion of thermal vacuum testing, the satellite will undergo a wide range of additional testing. Vibration testing (which simulates the stresses of launch), shock testing (mimicking shocks found during deployment of solar panels), and many more tests will occur. With this thorough testing, scientists and engineers can be confident that the satellite will complete its mission without error. The series of satellites is planned to operate into the 2030’s, and NOAA/NASA have already started working on the next generation of satellites.
phys.org, “NOAA’s GOES-U Completes Thermal Vacuum Testing”, Accessed 30 December 2022.
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