For the first time in nearly 30 years, NASA is developing a new manned space flight launch system. The Ares I will carry crew and cargo to not only the International Space Station, but onward for the future exploration of the Moon and Mars. The Ares I control system and structural designs use complex computer models for their development. An Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Test (IVGVT) will validate the efficacy of these computer models. The IVGVT will reduce the technical risk of unexpected conditions that could place the vehicle or crew in jeopardy. The Ares Project Office's Flight and Integrated Test Office commissioned a study to determine how historical programs, such as Saturn and Space Shuttle, validated the structural dynamics of an integrated flight vehicle. The study methodology was to examine the historical record and seek out members of the engineering community who recall the development of historic manned launch vehicles. These records and interviews provided insight into the best practices and lessons learned from these historic development programs. The information that was gathered allowed the creation of timelines of the historic development programs. The timelines trace the programs from the development of test articles through test preparation, test operations, and test data reduction efforts. These timelines also demonstrate how the historical tests fit within their overall vehicle development programs. Finally, the study was able to quantify approximate staffing levels during historic development programs. Using this study, the Flight and Integrated Test Office was able to evaluate the Ares I Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Test schedule and workforce budgets in light of the historical precedents to determine if the test had schedule or cost risks associated with it.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Integrated Vehicle Ground Vibration Testing of Manned Spacecraft: Historical Precedent


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    55th JANNAF Joint Propulsion Conference ; 2008 ; Newton, MA, United States


    Publication date :

    2008-05-12


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Manned Spacecraft

    A. N. Ponomarev | NTIS | 1989


    Balanced-in-flight testing for manned spacecraft

    GROUNDS, H. / SCHWEISTHAL, R. | AIAA | 1967


    Sealing manned spacecraft

    Trout, Jr., O.F. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1963


    Manned spacecraft technologies

    Yang, Hong | TIBKAT | 2021


    SEALING MANNED SPACECRAFT

    Trout, O. F., Jr. | NTRS | 1963