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
Advanced System Monitoring & Analytics for Smart Grids
Gantner Instruments, in partnership with The University of Cyprus, researches the controllability of renewable energy sources in local self-operated Smart Micro-Grid using innovative data streaming solutions including Crate.io.
Read more...Easy integration of Gantner Instruments product platforms into NI LabVIEW
NI LabVIEW has become an essential graphical programming environment widely used in engineering, R&D, testing, and industrial automation. Its flexibility allows engineers to quickly integrate and control diverse measurement hardware, streamlining the entire data acquisition process.
Read more...Austrian Railways Measurement Vehicle Detects Signal Magnets Using the Q.station Test Controller
The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) continuously checks the quality of its network using special measurement vehicles. Measurement data is required as the basis for maintenance and renovation work; a precise geographic reference data is therefore important.
Read more...Long term Volcano Monitoring – A field study
Monitoring volcano activity is an important issue in the mitigation of natural hazards. Recently, most fatal issues occurred on volcanoes with low-energy and moderate activity, making them attractive touristic places (e.g., the 2014 Mount Ontake eruption in Japan). For these types of volcanoes, monitoring involves multiphysics measurements on dense networks. Distributed networks of sensors must be easily adapted to the volcano’s evolving state and the appearance of new active areas like fumaroles or high heat flux in the soil.
Read more...