Why Invest in a Test Facility Product?

CSA’s customers build sophisticated products and systems that must operate reliably for extended periods in harsh environments. Our customers and we both recognize the value of testing before the start of product operational lifetime. Traditionally, testing of space flight and other hardware has included thermal-vacuum and shake or vibration tests to screen or stress components. CSA offers a series of products that allow more comprehensive testing, simulating loads, vibration, boundary constraints, and other aspects of operational mechanical environments. These test facility products can be used to perform traditional stress tests. More commonly they allow our customers to do performance simulation by capturing essential features of operational environments and permit prolonged and comprehensive ground testing and refinement of subsystems including mechanical, electro-mechanical, electrical, and software elements. Our systems replicate the essential aspects of launch, flight, or on-orbit operation, and are compatible with other test facilities including vacuum chambers. They allow the gap between the real operating and synthetic environments to be narrowed so that risk is reduced, control ability is proven, and additional partial testing is avoided.

Custom Test Facilities

Would you like to test a space component or system on the ground but it doesn’t seem possible? CSA will work with you to understand your requirements and develop a custom system that builds on our established products. A long spar incapable of supporting its own weight? An array or antenna structure? A satellite robotic arm? CSA has supplied test systems for these and other structures.

Higher fidelity ground test can increase understanding of expected on-orbit performance, but gravity often gets in the way. CSA provides gravity offload systems that move to support extending and shape-changing structures so deployment mechanisms can be validated. We combine intricate mechanical design with actuation, sensing and electronic and software control to provide synthetic environments. An investment in ground testing reduces risk for flight and the need for additional analysis, design and testing using incomplete conventional methods and tools. Consider CSA when you want to manage motion and vibration for ground test of space systems.