610.253.6637
610.253.6637

Category: Test Standards

What is Space Simulation Testing?

Space Simulation Testing replicates the high altitudes and temperatures for items that are used in outer space, satellites, or rockets.  Products that will be used in space or high altitudes must be able to endure combined environments of extreme temperatures and extreme low pressures. 

Space is defined as an altitude more than 100 km (62 miles or 328,000 feet) above sea level.  The pressure at this altitude is roughly 2.4 x 10-04 to 4 x 10-04 mbar (1.8 x 10-04 to 3 x 10-04 torr) [1].  Temperatures can be as cold as -80 °C.  This is a very difficult environment for anything to survive.  That is why Space Simulation Testing is essential! 

Space simulation testing is performed in a specialized Thermal Vacuum Chamber or TVAC.  TVACs are very specialized chambers that have a two-stage vacuum pumping system and a thermal plate.  The vacuum pumping system typically consists of a roughing pump and a turbo molecular pump.  The vacuum pumping system must be capable of achieving vacuums of 1 x 10-04 torr and below.  The thermal plate should be capable of constant or cyclic temperature control from -80 °C to +100 °C. 

DES’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC)

Why Perform Space Simulation Testing?

Mission-critical equipment and components that are used in satellites or space systems are very expensive.  They can take years to develop and launch.  It is essential that space equipment is thoroughly tested not just to survive these extreme conditions, but it must also operate properly and be reliable. Failure during launch or operation in space is not an option!  It is devastating and extremely costly.  Satellites can cost over 150 million dollars.  In addition, space simulation testing of components in a TVAC can expose issues before they are integrated into larger systems saving time and overall project cost. 

Why Choose DES for Space Simulation Testing?

DES has the experience and accredited lab to perform validation of mission-critical components during Prototyping, Design Verification, and Qualification phases.  DES’s TVAC can achieve high vacuum levels and apply extreme temperatures simultaneously with high vacuums.  DES can also simulate the severe vibrations and pyroshocks that occur during a launch.

Our Space Simulation Equipment Capabilities Are:

  • High vacuum levels down to 10-7 torr (1,000,000 Feet or 200 miles!)
  • Cyclic or constant temperature control from -100°C to +150°C
  • 16 x 16 inch thermal plate
  • Multiple sealed access ports to allow products to be operational and monitored during testing including power, data, and RF lines
  • View window for visual monitoring
  • Digital vacuum pressure recording
  • Multiple thermocouples for recording thermal plate & product temperatures
  • [1] AFGL Atmospheric Constituent Profiles (0-120km)
Test Performed in DES’s Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC)

Please contact us or call 610.253.6637 to discuss your project with an expert.

Delserro Engineering Solutions (DES) – Recent Projects (Spring 2021)

Delserro Engineering Solutions logo

Recently, DES has been very busy working on multiple space and aerospace test programs.  We can’t discuss too many details due to the sensitive nature of the products.  Some highlights are:

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What Exactly is MIL-STD 810?

Mil Std 810 Test Procedure for military specification testing

MIL-STD 810 is a Department of Defense Test Method Standard for environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests.  It is the most popular Military specification used to conduct environmental testing of military products.  It exists so as to ensure that products used for defense-related purposes meet very specific requirements with regard to ruggedness, durability, and performance.  Given the fact that these products may be exposed to harsh or even extreme conditions, their reliability under stress is essential

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Salt Fog or Salt Spray Testing

Salt fog (aka salt atmosphere or salt spray) testing exposes components to a fine salt fog mist that can result in rusting or corrosion of susceptible materials.  Samples to be tested are hung or placed on a rack inside of the salt fog chamber at the orientation that is specified in the applicable test method or otherwise agreed to with the customer.  The orientation during testing is important as unintended corrosion can result if the salt fog is allowed to condense and pool on the sample.  The samples are then exposed to a salt fog of defined salt content.  The salt solution used to provide the salt fog mist is usually a 5 percent by weight NaCl solution with the pH adjusted close to 7.0.  The salt fog condensate rate is monitored during the test to verify that the test requirements are met.

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How to Implement a HASS Program

This article is a general outline on how to implement a HASS program after a successful HALT has been performed and corrective actions have been completed for any weaknesses found during HALT.  For more information about HASS, please read our blog, What is HASS Testing?  For more information about HALT, please read our blogs

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DES Performs Testing for NASA Psyche Program

Delserro Engineering Solutions (DES) was proud to recently perform testing for the NASA Psyche Program.  More information about this program can be found at the following web link https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/psyche/.

DES was contracted by a local manufacturer to help qualify their product for use in the demanding Psyche spacecraft environment. DES’s role was to perform specialized pyroshock testing and vibration testing on their products.

What sets DES apart from other labs is our in-depth experience and technical capability to understand and reproduce the most complicated vibration and shock profiles. DES continues to perform the most complex vibration and shock tests on products that are used in outer space, rockets, missiles, automotive & truck environments, military environments, etc.

For more information on Pyroshock Testing, Shock Testing, Vibration Testing or other testing services, contact DES or call 610.253.6637.

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure IV – Transit Drop

This is another part of a series of blog posts concerning the MIL-STD 810 Shock Section, Method 516.  This blog was written with reference to MIL-STD-810G w/Change 1 dated 15 April 2014.  DES has the experience and expertise to run your MIL-STD-810 test.  For more information, please check out our DES shock testing services page and our other MIL-STD-810 shock testing blog articles:

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Overview

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure I – Functional Shock

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure II – Transportation Shock

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure III – Fragility

Method 516, Procedure IV is for testing products that could be accidently dropped such as when they are removed from a shelve or dropped when handling.  The test item is physically dropped onto a hard surface to produce the shock.  Products can be tested inside their transit case or unpackaged.  Typically, they would be tested in the configuration that is normally used for transportation, handling, or a combat situation.

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MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure III – Fragility

This is another part of a series of blog posts concerning the MIL-STD 810 Shock Section, Method 516.  This blog was written with reference to MIL-STD-810G w/Change 1 dated 15 April 2014.  DES has the experience and expertise to run your MIL-STD-810 test.  For more information, please check out our DES shock testing services page and our other MIL-STD-810 shock testing blog articles:

Procedure III is used to determine what shock conditions will cause a product to stop operating, degrade or fail.  The shock magnitudes are systematically increased until a problem occurs.  This procedure can be also performed using environmental temperature conditioning.

This article will assume that the fragility shocks expected to be encountered by the product are not complex transients.  Therefore, the trapezoidal classical shock pulse, as defined in Figure 516.7-11 and Table 516.7-V from MIL-STD-810, Method 516 would be used for Fragility testing.

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MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure I – Functional Shock

This is part two of a series of blog posts concerning the MIL-STD 810 Shock Section, Method 516.  This blog was written with reference to MIL-STD-810G w/Change 1 dated 15 April 2014.  DES has the experience and expertise to run your MIL-STD-810 test.  For more information, please check out our DES shock testing services page and our other MIL-STD-810 shock testing blog articles:

MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Overview

Shock testing according to Procedure I of MIL-STD 810, Method 516 is intended to test products while they are operating to see if any functional problems occur and to determine if they survive without damage.  The applied shocks usually represent those that may be encountered during operational service.  This article will focus on the shock test condition when measured field data is not available and the testing will use classical shock impulses.  The terminal peak sawtooth is the default classical shock pulse to be used for this condition.  Figure 516.7-10 from MIL-STD-810 shows its shape and tolerance limits.  Table 516.7-IV contains the terminal peak sawtooth default test parameters for Procedure I -Functional Test.  In limited cases a half sine shock impulse is specified.  Its shape and tolerance limits are shown in Figure 516.7-12.

Continue reading MIL-STD 810, Method 516, Shock Testing Procedure I – Functional Shock →