Today ESA IXV begins it's test for launch in 1st half of November

[Sky_walker]

These tests at ESA’s Technical Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, aim to confirm that IXV can withstand the demanding conditions of launch. The first batch, starting on 11 July for three weeks, sees IXV bolted to a ‘shaker table’ to experience the heavy vibrations of launch.

Three days of ‘separation shock’ testing follows, mimicking the moment the craft separates from the Vega rocket. At an altitude of 320 km, a pyrotechnic device will fire to open a clamp band for springs to push IXV away from the upper stage. Mission planners must be sure that it can withstand the mechanical shock of the pyrotechnic detonation.

Next, inside the Large European Acoustic Facility for six days, IXV will experience the deafening roar of a rocket ascent. Finally, 11 days will be devoted to checking that all of the onboard subsystems work after enduring the tests.

IXV must withstand the extremes of both space and atmosphere on its journey into space and back, requiring extensive testing for almost all of its technologies. Space is a vacuum but IXV must also withstand the searing heat of reentry.

In early September, IXV will be shipped to Kourou for launch in the first half of November.

Source.

Read more about IXV.

[Motokid600]

How do they test for gforces?

[Sky_walker]

Which G-forces?

Testing separation shocks is relatively simple and cheap, as they are not too high. You basically drop it from some pre-calculated height with additional bursts of compressed air in certain locations to simulate pyrotechnic explosion. Here's an info about these tests for BepiColombo with a movie showing one of the tests: http://sci.esa.int/bepicolombo/50683-simulation-of-spacecraft-launcher-separation-shock/

And here you can find some more in-depth description about separation shock testing: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/The_shock_of_separation

Edited July 11, 2014 by Sky_walker

[Guest Fyre Flare]

Well... Cool, ESA experimental spaceplane beginning tests.

Sorry... I just don't have too much intrest in It right now.

[magnemoe]

Well... Cool, ESA experimental spaceplane beginning tests.

Sorry... I just don't have too much intrest in It right now.

BepiColombo however is pretty cool, as it will put to satellites in orbit around mercury.

However its an lack of good information, it will use chemical and probably ion as hybrid,

[Motokid600]

Which G-forces?

Testing separation shocks is relatively simple and cheap, as they are not too high. You basically drop it from some pre-calculated height with additional bursts of compressed air in certain locations to simulate pyrotechnic explosion. Here's an info about these tests for BepiColombo with a movie showing one of the tests: http://sci.esa.int/bepicolombo/50683-simulation-of-spacecraft-launcher-separation-shock/

And here you can find some more in-depth description about separation shock testing: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/The_shock_of_separation

The vertical, sustained forces during ascent. Testing for shocks is easy as you said. But is there a large centrifuge they put this thing in or something?

[Sky_walker]

They put it on a specially designed shake table. Here's more information about it.

[Sky_walker]

Update and some more information about IXV testing: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Launchers/IXV/ESA_s_spaceplane_set_for_flight

[Sky_walker]

ESA just posted a video that gives quite nice sense of IXV size and shape for those who have trouble imagining it on a pictures:

[78stonewobble]

Sorry, if this is a really stupid question.

Thermal tiles again. Hmm, why not just "wrap" the spacecraft in a non reusable throwaway avcoat covering or cheap frame with that covering? Weight of an ablative heatshield?

You can reuse the parts of the craft that are subjected to the relatively least stress and wouldn't have to overengineer parts that do have high stress.

[Sky_walker]

It's significantly cheaper to manufacture small ablative tiles than a single, large, monolithic heat shield that would meet quality standards.

You can reuse the parts of the craft that are subjected to the relatively least stress and wouldn't have to overengineer parts that do have high stress.

Well, that's basically how IXV is build already - frame and interior can be reused, ablative shield (high stress) is one-time-use.

[78stonewobble]

It's significantly cheaper to manufacture small ablative tiles than a single, large, monolithic heat shield that would meet quality standards.

Well, that's basically how IXV is build already - frame and interior can be reused, ablative shield (high stress) is one-time-use.

Aaah, thank you for the reply.

Well that does make it smarter allready.

I haven't done alot of heatshield manufacturing, so what do I know. *lol*

[Sky_walker]

I haven't done alot of heatshield manufacturing, so what do I know. *lol*

Well, I didn't do it either But I had material science for 2 years on my uni back in a day and I read a lot... ok - it's mostly reading.

[Aghanim]

I'm wondering, what do they want to do with this after they finished this test?

[Kryten]

It's intended as a prototype for a full orbital spaceplane called PRIDE; effectively a smaller X-37, still launched on Vega.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Kryten

[Sky_walker]

I'm wondering, what do they want to do with this after they finished this test?

The follow-up will be autonomous PRIDE (Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe) capable of orbital flight, deploying and servicing satellites and performing experiments on orbit.

It's going to be launched on Vega, much like IXV is, but after returning back it won't just splash down into the ocean but rather perform a runway landing. It allows them to lower the price point of Vega launches and at the same time make the vehicle much smaller and lighter than for example Skylon migrating the risks and prices.

Georges Lemaître ATV (which will be launched on 12 August) will contain another important component of PRIDE - new automated rendezvous system with uncooperative targets - that will in future allow PRIDE to service satellites without the need of additional weight on a satellite itself. You can read more about it here: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/ATV/ATV-5_set_to_test_new_rendezvous_sensors

More details about PRIDE will most likely unfold in December after ESA ministerial-level meeting.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Sky_walker