Space Seeker Motion Test System Using Segmented Vacuum Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing space seekers lack a practical means to simulate flight conditions while maintaining high vacuum and optical target accuracy, leading to contamination risks, high costs, and lengthy setup times.
Innovation Solution
A space seeker motion test system utilizing a rough vacuum chamber with a bellows coupling to a high vacuum space chamber, allowing for cryogenic cooling and motion simulation while protecting the optics from contamination, and enabling quick setup and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single high vacuum chamber is used to house both the space seeker and optical target, then optical target accuracy and flight condition simulation are improved, but contamination risk increases and setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The test system is divided into two separate vacuum chambers: a first vacuum chamber for housing the space seeker and a second vacuum chamber for housing the optical target. This segmentation allows each chamber to be independently prepared and maintained, reducing contamination risk and setup time while preserving optical target accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A vacuum bellows acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two vacuum chambers, providing a sealed connection that allows optical signals to pass through while maintaining vacuum separation. This enables the space seeker to view the optical target without direct exposure to contamination sources.
2Reliability
If the space seeker is tested in a high vacuum environment, then flight condition simulation is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the space seeker and optical target into different vacuum chambers, the system maintains high vacuum conditions necessary for flight simulation while preventing contamination from spreading between components. The vacuum bellows provides a sealed barrier that protects the space seeker from target-related contamination.
3Measurement precision
If a complex vacuum system with multiple chambers is used, then contamination protection and optical accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum bellows serves as a compact intermediary component that provides both vacuum sealing and optical transmission capabilities. This single component simplifies the overall system architecture compared to requiring separate complex sealing and optical coupling mechanisms, while maintaining optical accuracy and contamination protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a high-fidelity space seeker test with reduced costs and time, minimizing contamination risks and allowing for repeated testing, while maintaining the necessary high vacuum and radiometric background simulation.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows coupling the space seeker holding fixture to the space chamber
Implementation Method 2
a first vacuum pump configured to maintain the rough vacuum chamber at a rough vacuum, and a second vacuum pump configured to maintain the space chamber at high vacuum
Implementation Method 3
a cryogenic cooling system configured to maintain the space chamber at cryogenic temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A space seeker motion test system comprises a rough vacuum chamber including a space seeker holding fixture, a space chamber including a target to be imaged by a space seeker disposed in the space seeker holding fixture, a bellows coupling the space seeker holding fixture to the space chamber, a gate valve providing selective fluidic communication between the space seeker holding fixture and an internal volume of the space chamber through the bellows, a first vacuum pump configured to maintain the rough vacuum chamber at a rough vacuum, and a second vacuum pump configured to maintain the space chamber at high vacuum.