February 15, 2008

CSA Engineering recently started a two-year research and development program that will deliver systems used in hardware-in-the-loop simulation of spacecraft. The specific focus is jitter and vibration on spacecraft and the related performance sensitivity of spacecraft-mounted components. Under the program, CSA will deliver to the Air Force two jitter simulation systems. The first, a vacuum-compatible hexapod, will allow creation of a synthetic motion, vibration and jitter environment typical of spacecraft. The controlled platform to be delivered later in 2008 will host different infrared and other sensors and subject those sensors to motion expected aboard on-orbit satellites, allowing evaluation of sensor performance and jitter compensation algorithms. A separate system that allows complete six-degree-of-freedom characterization of spacecraft mechanical disturbance sources will be delivered subsequently and will be suitable for hardware evaluation of candidate coolers, steppers, scanners and other components.

CSA Engineering provides products and services for vibration suppression and precision motion control, and has main facilities in Mountain View, California and Albuquerque, New Mexico.