04 — Space Qualification
Space Hardware Qualification
Alongside my EMC specialism, I have conducted, witnessed and supported vibration, thermal cycling and thermal vacuum testing on space hardware, from payload electronics to solar array segments.
Tools
Shaker Sizing
Required shaker force from payload, fixture and armature mass, test level and margin.
Open → 02Random Vibration gRMS
Calculate overall vibration severity from PSD breakpoints using log–log integration.
Open → 03Thermal Cycle Duration
Estimate chamber time from temperature range, ramp rate, dwell periods, cycle count and additional test activities.
Open →Hands-on experience
Vibration, thermal cycling and thermal vacuum
Test preparation covers the facility, fixtures, harnessing, instrumentation and applicable requirements.
Vibration
Sine, random and mechanical shock on space payload electronics — including up/down converter equipment — at qualification and acceptance levels.
- Fixture mounting and axis changes
- Control and response accelerometers
- Low-level sine and resonance searches
- Random vibration, notching and dwell
- Pre/post-test comparison
Thermal
Thermal cycling on space and aeronautical products: chamber checks, hot and cold exposure, dwell periods and functional testing at temperature.
- Hot and cold plateaus
- Dwell and soak timing
- Thermocouple monitoring
- Current draw and self-test checks
- Performance at extremes
TVAC
Thermal vacuum testing of a solar array segment for a geostationary satellite programme, and a year monitoring five chambers on night shifts.
- Pump-down and leak checks
- Vacuum and pressure monitoring
- Heater zones and thermal shrouds
- Feedthroughs and harness support
- Oxygen depletion safety
Standards context
Standards and facility planning
Environmental verification frameworks include NASA GEVS / GSFC-STD-7000, ECSS-E-ST-10-03, MIL-STD-810 and RTCA DO-160. At Mangata, my responsibilities included defining EMC chambers, antenna ranges, thermal vacuum and vibration facilities as an integrated test capability.