The reliability of APL-built spacecraft and instruments is based on our capability to test and qualify complete systems, from microchips to satellites. Our philosophy is to test spacecraft under conditions as close to the flight environment as possible. That includes simulating environments from ground handling through launch, and powered and orbital flight. An essential component of our testing and assurance process is the Environmental Test Facility (ETF).

The ETF provides laboratories, instrumentation, and data acquisition capabilities for thorough thermal and dynamic environmental testing of flight hardware at all levels of assembly. Continual research and development work is conducted in instrumentation related to properly simulating an environment, testing a package, and acquiring and analyzing the environmental test data. ETF structural dynamics and space simulation testing functions are performed in the Vibration Test and Space Simulation Laboratories.

The Vibration Test Laboratory encompasses all necessary services and equipment to perform shock and vibration testing of spacecraft and subsystems. Digital control systems provide sinusoidal, random, and transient waveform control to three separate dynamic exciters. General mechanical tests such as weighing, static load testing, deployment testing, center-of-gravity measurement and modal analysis are also done at this laboratory. The VTL comprises a shaker test area, an instrumentation and control room, and a power amplifier room for a total area of about 4,000 ft². This Laboratory is considered a Class 100,000 clean area.

VTL Test Capabilities:

• Sinusoidal vibration
• Random Vibration
• Mixed mode vibration
• Modal analysis
• Transient shock
• Shock synthesis
• Static loads
• Two Unholtz-Dickie and one Ling electrodynamic shaker systems
• Test item capacity to 10,000 lbs.
• Digital control and data acquisition systems with 256 real-time data channel capability
• Digital acquisition & analysis system for 320 strain/temperature/voltage data channels
• Vibration testing to 40,000 lbf and 2000 Hz
• Shock testing to 3000g and 10,000 Hz

The Space Simulation Laboratory (SSL) consists of the chamber test area, computerized control room, and equipment room (about 4,800 ft²). The SSL provides all necessary services and equipment to perform thermal and thermal-vacuum testing of spacecraft, subsystems and instruments. Digital control systems provide required thermal control through the use of Nitrogen Thermal Conditioning Units, IR quartz lamps and resistive heaters on shrouds. When testing, this facility is operated continuously, 24 hours per day, under close monitoring by test operators. This Laboratory is also considered a Class 100,000 clean area. A portable clean test area (Class 1,000) is available as well.

Contact: Hadi Navid, 240-228-5028