SPACE CAPSULES

NASA ORION CAPSULE TESTING

MEASURING SPLASHDOWN IMPACT ON ASTRONAUTS FOR ARTEMIS MOON MISSIONS

The Challenge: 

• • • NASA needed to run a series of water-impact tests on the 18,000 lb. Orion mock-up capsule
    • Drop testing the capsule in the 20′ deep Hydro Impact Basin at the Langley Research Center
    • Data collection of crew safety factors and structural integrity based on re-entry speeds up to 25,000 mph
    • Limited space and weight constraints onboard for test instrumentation
    • Power consideration, data acquisition needed to be able to record for extended time periods

The Solution:

• • • Miniature, rugged DTS data acquisition systems and sensor
    • Instrumentation was positioned inside the capsule to measure stresses and structural integrity
    • In-dummy DAS was embedded in the test dummies to measure the safety of future astronauts
    • Modular system, supported hundreds of sensors, strain gauges and accelerometers
    • MIL-STD-810G and IP68 rated systems available
    • Onboard reliability, data writes directly to flash memory
    • Complete solution provider and experts in dynamic testing and injury biomechanics