Andrew Yee[_1_]
June 21st 07, 03:51 AM
National Research Council Canada
Contact:
Sarah Mangione
Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: 613-990-6091
Michelle Gagnon
Communications Officer, NRC Aerospace
National Research Council Canada
Tel: 613-991-5738
May 24, 2007
NRC Aerospace Test Helps Qualify RADARSAT-2 for 2007 Launch
Acoustic test certifies remote-sensing satellite can withstand rocket engine
Ottawa, ON -- The National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research
(NRC Aerospace) has successfully completed an acoustic qualification test on
RADARSAT-2, a new remote-sensing satellite built by MacDonald Dettwiler and
Associates Ltd.(MDA) under contract to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The
test was conducted to certify that RADARSAT-2 can withstand the noise
environment generated by the rocket engines during launch later this year.
Conducted in February, it simulated noise generated during the first 60
seconds of launch, which is the worst structural environment that the
spacecraft will experience during its mission. It took place in NRC
Aerospace's reverberant acoustic chamber and was completed two days ahead of
schedule.
The acoustic test complemented a sinusoidal vibration test campaign that
simulated the launch rocket's excitation at the spacecraft attachment
points. These tests are part of a series of assembly and testing activities
presently underway at the CSA's premier space qualification centre, the
David Florida Laboratory (DFL) in Ottawa, to enhance confidence in the
spacecraft design and performance before it is shipped to the launch site.
"NRC has the only facility in Canada capable of performing these tests,"
stated Dr. David Zimcik, NRC Aerospace aeroacoustics expert. "The RADARSAT-2
test accomplished two things: it proved that the spacecraft is strong enough
to withstand the loads, and it confirmed that the analytical predictions
from the mathematical model of the spacecraft were accurate."
In all, four test runs were carried out: the first at low level to identify
the structure's signature and ensure everything was working, a second at
predicted flight level, a protoflight/qualification test at 3 decibels above
flight level, and a final low level test to confirm that the structure
survived the acoustic environment. The protoflight test, a 60-second blast
at 143 decibels, simulated the worst random, acoustic environment the
spacecraft might expect during the first minute of launch.
Zimcik stated, "We had some pretty tight tolerances to achieve. If we had
too little noise, we would end up under-testing; if we had too much, we
might have broken the structure. With the automated control system we've
developed, however, we were able to control the noise input into the chamber
and match the input spectrum provided by the supplier. It's a capability
unique to our facility by which we can provide a more accurate environment
with less risk to the spacecraft."
RADARSAT-2 will provide the most advanced commercially available C-band
radar imagery in the world. It is the first commercial radar satellite to
offer multi-polarization, a capability that aids in identifying a wide
variety of surface features and targets. Its primary payload is a Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna that can capture images at spatial resolutions
of 3 to 100 metres over swath widths of 10 to 500 kilometres. This
capability will be invaluable for a variety of applications, including ice
and coastal monitoring, land use and resource management, cartography, and
disaster response. During its seven-year mission, RADARSAT-2 will orbit in
the same sun-synchronous, polar orbit as its predecessor, RADARSAT-1, but
offset in time, and will circle the earth 14 times a day at 798 km altitude,
covering the entire globe every 24 days.
Established in 1989 and with headquarters situated in Longueuil, Quebec, the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is responsible for coordinating all civil,
space-related policies and programs related to science and technology
research, industrial development, and international cooperation on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The CSA directs its resources and activities
through four key thrusts: Earth Observation, Space Science and Exploration,
Satellite Communications, and Space Awareness and Learning. With the overall
responsibility for advancing Canada's space policy and programs, it
leverages international cooperation to champion world-class scientific
research and industrial development for the benefit of humanity.
The National Research Council (NRC) Institute for Aerospace Research is
Canada's national aerospace laboratory, undertaking and promoting research
and technology development in support of the Canadian aerospace community in
matters affecting the design, manufacture, performance, use and safety of
aerospace vehicles.
Recognized globally for research and innovation, NRC is a leader in the
development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through
science and technology.
For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Contact:
Sarah Mangione
Media Relations
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: 613-990-6091
Michelle Gagnon
Communications Officer, NRC Aerospace
National Research Council Canada
Tel: 613-991-5738
May 24, 2007
NRC Aerospace Test Helps Qualify RADARSAT-2 for 2007 Launch
Acoustic test certifies remote-sensing satellite can withstand rocket engine
Ottawa, ON -- The National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research
(NRC Aerospace) has successfully completed an acoustic qualification test on
RADARSAT-2, a new remote-sensing satellite built by MacDonald Dettwiler and
Associates Ltd.(MDA) under contract to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The
test was conducted to certify that RADARSAT-2 can withstand the noise
environment generated by the rocket engines during launch later this year.
Conducted in February, it simulated noise generated during the first 60
seconds of launch, which is the worst structural environment that the
spacecraft will experience during its mission. It took place in NRC
Aerospace's reverberant acoustic chamber and was completed two days ahead of
schedule.
The acoustic test complemented a sinusoidal vibration test campaign that
simulated the launch rocket's excitation at the spacecraft attachment
points. These tests are part of a series of assembly and testing activities
presently underway at the CSA's premier space qualification centre, the
David Florida Laboratory (DFL) in Ottawa, to enhance confidence in the
spacecraft design and performance before it is shipped to the launch site.
"NRC has the only facility in Canada capable of performing these tests,"
stated Dr. David Zimcik, NRC Aerospace aeroacoustics expert. "The RADARSAT-2
test accomplished two things: it proved that the spacecraft is strong enough
to withstand the loads, and it confirmed that the analytical predictions
from the mathematical model of the spacecraft were accurate."
In all, four test runs were carried out: the first at low level to identify
the structure's signature and ensure everything was working, a second at
predicted flight level, a protoflight/qualification test at 3 decibels above
flight level, and a final low level test to confirm that the structure
survived the acoustic environment. The protoflight test, a 60-second blast
at 143 decibels, simulated the worst random, acoustic environment the
spacecraft might expect during the first minute of launch.
Zimcik stated, "We had some pretty tight tolerances to achieve. If we had
too little noise, we would end up under-testing; if we had too much, we
might have broken the structure. With the automated control system we've
developed, however, we were able to control the noise input into the chamber
and match the input spectrum provided by the supplier. It's a capability
unique to our facility by which we can provide a more accurate environment
with less risk to the spacecraft."
RADARSAT-2 will provide the most advanced commercially available C-band
radar imagery in the world. It is the first commercial radar satellite to
offer multi-polarization, a capability that aids in identifying a wide
variety of surface features and targets. Its primary payload is a Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna that can capture images at spatial resolutions
of 3 to 100 metres over swath widths of 10 to 500 kilometres. This
capability will be invaluable for a variety of applications, including ice
and coastal monitoring, land use and resource management, cartography, and
disaster response. During its seven-year mission, RADARSAT-2 will orbit in
the same sun-synchronous, polar orbit as its predecessor, RADARSAT-1, but
offset in time, and will circle the earth 14 times a day at 798 km altitude,
covering the entire globe every 24 days.
Established in 1989 and with headquarters situated in Longueuil, Quebec, the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is responsible for coordinating all civil,
space-related policies and programs related to science and technology
research, industrial development, and international cooperation on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The CSA directs its resources and activities
through four key thrusts: Earth Observation, Space Science and Exploration,
Satellite Communications, and Space Awareness and Learning. With the overall
responsibility for advancing Canada's space policy and programs, it
leverages international cooperation to champion world-class scientific
research and industrial development for the benefit of humanity.
The National Research Council (NRC) Institute for Aerospace Research is
Canada's national aerospace laboratory, undertaking and promoting research
and technology development in support of the Canadian aerospace community in
matters affecting the design, manufacture, performance, use and safety of
aerospace vehicles.
Recognized globally for research and innovation, NRC is a leader in the
development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through
science and technology.
For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca