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The ESA Large Space Simulator Mechanical Ground Support Equipment for Spacecraft TestingEnvironmental test facilities are not suitable in any case to comply with special or complex test requirements without modifications. Dedicated upgrades of the test facility and their subsystems with respect to the test requirements and specifications are often necessary. The Flight Model of the Planck Space Telescope was tested in the Large Space Simulator (LSS) of the ESTEC Test Centre. Main goals of the test were the verification of the deformation of the Telescope during thermal vacuum conditions at different temperature levels and the validation of the Thermal Model. The deformations of the telescope have been traced by two Videogrammetry canisters. In order to provide different view positions with respect to the PLANCK Telescope it was necessary to rotate the specimen by +/- 180deg. In addition very stringent requirements for the low temperature level of the thermal environment has lead to a comprehensive test set-up which was divided in four main elements: Dedicated support structure for the Videogrammetry canisters providing several DoF for adjustment. Structure to support three Infrared panels around the specimen. MLI curtain to cover the LSS 8m auxiliary chamber opening. System providing LN2 supply for the rotating PLANCK telescope cold panel. The design, manufacturing and integration of the necessary mechanical ground support to install for instance the canisters and to ensure the 180 rotation of the telescope under cold and high vacuum conditions was an extensive and important part of the entire test program. This paper will concentrate on the design issues, the implementation and verification of the MGSE provided for the Planck Space Telescope FM Videogrammetry Test in the LSS and the troubleshooting caused by a failure during the first rotation under cold conditions.
Document ID
20090015881
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hagelschuer, Dirk
(European Space Agency United States)
Messing, Rene
(European Space Agency United States)
Westera, Roel
(AOES Group B.V. Noordwijk, Netherlands)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
September 22, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: 25th Space Simulation Conference. Environmental Testing: The Earth-Space Connection
Subject Category
Space Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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