Despite the existence of sophisticated modeling capabilities, timely and realistic hardware testing remains extremely valuable to space mechanism development programs.
ESTL offers a range of specialist test capabilities and dedicated ESA accredited facilities, tailored to the requirements of the current and future generations of spacecraft hardware which require ever longer lifetimes, in harsher environments and with cost an increasingly stringent requirement
ESTL supports mechanism development by testing in the following ways:
Evaluation of tribo-materials and lubricants under application representative contact stresses, geometries, speed profiles or environments
Component level performance and friction/durability tests under conditions from cryogenic to high temperatures, measuring torques from mNm to 500Nm in air, nitrogen, vacuum or other environments
Rapid configuration of thermal vacuum test facilities with dedicated multi-channel data acquisition and control systems to achieve complex motion profiles, thermal cycling and thermal gradient requirements enabling accurate simulation of flight conditions
ESTL works as a closely integrated part of your development team, providing a high level of test feedback and professional assessment of test results. Where tribological issues arise during test, ESTL’s unique access to over 40 years of space tribological heritage, and its ongoing ESA-funded research and development programs, supports the selection and justification of alternative approaches.