The PACE observatory goes into a thermal vacuum chamber at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Denny Henry
” This is the finest way to replicate what PACE will experience in space,” said Craig Stevens, spacecraft systems lead. We need to make sure PACE is ready for that environment.”
An overview of the PACE satellite going into a thermal vacuum chamber.
The goal? To verify the efficiency of the satellite once its introduced and functional.
The PACE observatory enters a thermal vacuum chamber at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. It remained in the chamber for 33 days of testing. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Denny Henry
” This is the very best way to mimic what PACE will experience in area,” said Craig Stevens, spacecraft systems lead. “Space is a vacuum, and the observatory is exposed to extreme temperatures. We must make certain PACE is prepared for that environment.”
Comprehensive Preparation and Testing Protocols
After months of day-and-night shifts, various protocols, and a lot of group synergy, the objective finished its environmental testing in August, making it one action more detailed to launching in early January 2024.
” This shows the PACE observatory can withstand the strenuous thermal environment once it is introduced and placed into its operational environment,” said Mark Voyton, the mission project manager. “Completing the TVAC test is very significant, as it represents the last ecological test in our six-month environmental test project.”
An overview of the PACE satellite getting in a thermal vacuum chamber. Before the doors closed, the entire observatory was run through extra screening. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Denny Henry
Getting to this final test was an obstacle for employee offered the time and resources TVAC can take.
Before things might start, the satellite was placed in the thermal chamber for a week previously in June at NASA Goddard for setup.
Before the door for screening was closed, each group that had actually worked on PACE validated their part of the observatory remained in working order, stated Daniel Powers, PACEs thermal product advancement lead. Members of the control space were likewise standing by to guarantee that when the power for thermal screening went on, things worked correctly.
Gary Davis, the objectives systems engineer for PACE, takes a look at the observatory before critical testing. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Denny Henry
Rigorous Testing Regimen
As soon as the chamber door closed, main screening lasted about 33 days.
” This is the last confirmation that whatever is dealing with the spacecraft as anticipated. We take it to temperature level extremes too,” said Powers. “By taking it to the anticipated severe environments we will see on orbit, we can see that we have whatever setup and designed appropriately from a thermal perspective.”
Members of the PACE team continue testing in Goddards TVAC chamber. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Denny Henry
The team worked three shifts– covering 24 hours every day, every day– to make sure operations worked on a stringent timetable.
“You have a full marching army, and its all hands on deck,” Powers stated.
PACE now has 2 more tests at ambient temperature level and pressure, which complete the observatorys post-environmental testing. Then the team begins preparing for the spacecrafts journey to Florida and its launchpad.
NASAs PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft in orbit over Earth. Credit: NASA GSFC
The PACE spacecraft finished an important month-long thermal test at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, leading the way for its arranged January 2024 launch.
Consider it the “mom of all tests.”
This summer season, the PACE spacecraft (short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) completed a critical stage of its launch journey: the thermal vacuum test (TVAC), where it underwent extreme temperatures and pressures in a specialized chamber at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.