Applications of Advanced Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Techniques to Address Safety of Flight Issues on NASA Spacecraft

Advanced NDE and SHM techniques are critical for ensuring the reliability and safety of NASA launch vehicles and spacecraft. NDE techniques such as infrared thermography, THz imaging, x-ray computed tomography and backscatter x-ray are used to detect indications of damage in spacecraft components and structures. Additionally, sensor and measurement systems are integrated into spacecraft to provide SHM to detect damaging events that occur during flight such as debris impacts during launch and assent or from micrometeoroid and orbital debris, or excessive loading due to anomalous flight conditions. A number of examples will be provided of how these NDE and SHM techniques have been applied to resolve safety critical inspection concerns for the Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS), and a variety of launch vehicles and unmanned spacecraft.