Austria | Germany | France | Sweden | India | USA | China | Singapore
Test Like You Fly, Fly Like You Test
News | < 1 minute Reading Time |

Test Like You Fly, Fly Like You Test

When building a rocket there is a whole flight certification process, and qualification is an important part of that. It proves the hardware meets the requirements and performs the way it is designed to do. Of all parts of a rocket, the engine section is perhaps the most critical during launch. The weight of the massive rocket is pushing down, while the engines are pushing up with millions of pounds of thrust. Whether it is an engine for experimental rockets or for commercial spaceflight, adequate testing is critical to the success of each launch program.

Engine testing is done in the same way and for the same duration that will be needed during an actual launch. The idea is to replicate as close as possible how the engine will be used on a space mission. That is why there is a saying in the rocket business: “Test Like You Fly, Fly Like You Test”.

Because of the cost and risk associated with developing and testing an engine, a reliable test setup is vital. Maintaining system consistency and accuracy in a harsh environment is putting stringent requirements on the data acquisition equipment. DAQ systems must be able to record, display and process up to 2000 different parameters, varying from pressures, flow rates, vibrations and temperatures. Real-time sample rates may vary form 10 Hz to several kHz. The Q.series’s accuracy, flexibility and reliability makes it the data acquisition system of choice for world’s leading engine manufacturers and engine testing facilities.

Please read the full article on our measurement solution for rocket engine testing on page 76 in the Aerospace Testing International Showcase 2018.

More articles

News

GI.bench is OUT!

We continue to improve our GI.bench data acquisition software with a strong focus on making it a scalable platform that is easy to use for both small high-speed measurement and high-channel-count, mixed-signal data acquisition applications.

Read more...
Events

GDevCon 4 Glasgow

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of graphical programming at GDevCon 2023 on the 20th and 21st of September, from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, at the esteemed Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland. This conference is a must-attend event for anyone striving to push the boundaries in the fields of engineering and technology.

Read more...
News

Webinar – Essential Test & Measurement Technologies

Engineers face significantly complex challenges when deciding which future-proof, robust, and expandable data acquisition systems are best for their application(s). Thankfully three industry experts from Gantner Instruments will be presenting in a series of webinars hosted by our Canadian partner, Hoskin Scientific, to help make the DAQ selection process a little bit easier.

Read more...
Events

Meet Us at Existing Bridges 2025

When bridge decisions hinge on incomplete evidence, maintenance gets reactive and costly. At Existing Bridges 2025 in Žilina, Slovakia, Gantner Instruments will show how time‑synchronized SHM turns raw signals into decisions you can trust. Join us from 5 to 7 November 2025 at the Holiday Inn Žilina to see how engineers combine Q.series X hardware with GI.bench and GI.cloud for reliable, scalable monitoring and assessment.

Read more...