The qualification of the static component testing of the MTM drive module was recently completed; comprehensive HBK measurement technology was used.
The BEPICOLOMBO mission: The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency ISAS/JAXA want to explore Mercury – with a drive module and two separate space probes that will orbit around the planet. The qualification of the static component testing of the MTM drive module was recently completed; comprehensive HBK measurement technology was used. The program for the BEPICOLOMBO mission was developed by EADS Astrium GmbH, in order to meet the requirements set by ESA. The main probe Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the drive module Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) are being built by the ESA. Japan is contributing the sister probe Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO).
The body responsible for the qualification of the static component testing for the MTM drive module was the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA). The test method essentially simulates the envelope curve of the critical loads that act on the space platform during operation. On a multi-function test bench equipped with actuators, mechanical loads were applied to the main structure. The Spanish company EADS CASA Espacio was commissioned for this purpose. Various sensors were placed at strategic positions around the structure: 202 strain gages, 24 displacement transducers and 8 inclinometers. The displacement transducers were connected via CANHEAD® from HBK, the amplifier system for applications with distributed strain gages. The processing, measurement and monitoring of the data was implemented with the MGCplus data acquisition system from HBK.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was born through the merger of three institutions, namely the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA).
O sistema amplificador CANHEAD adquire dados de medições estáticas e quase-estáticas e é ideal para uso em monitoramentos de longa duração, ensaios de fadiga e ensaios estruturais estáticos como, por exemplo, na indústria aeroespacial e de construção. O sistema de aquisição de dados é instalado próximo aos pontos de medição, o que reduz os custos com cabeamento. Isso economiza custos com material e instalação.
