News | < 1 minute Reading Time | 2017-11-09

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.

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Q.series interface with the Moog Aerospace Test Controller

The amount of data generated in an aircraft structural test program continues to grow. The density of load introduction points (actuators) and sensors (strain gauges, thermocouples, LVDTs) on a test article is increasing progressively and model validation requires higher data sample rates to capture more detail. The risks and costs involved in aircraft validation and certification are significant, and the requirement for quick entry-into-service is high. To minimize the impact of retrofitting in-service aircrafts, the ability to generate test results quickly is crucial to the success of a test program.

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Q.series X A101 SV: Universal Measurement Module with Sensor Supply

The Q.series X A101 2 x DB15HD SV module from Gantner Instruments is a precisely engineered multi-functional measurement module that seamlessly integrates into a variety of industrial applications. With 2 universal analog inputs and a programmable sensor supply voltage and current limit, this module is crafted to provide precise and reliable data across a spectrum of measurement needs.