Node 3 Element Leak Test
- Paper number
IAC-07-C2.1.03
- Author
Mr. Dario Bertotto, Thales Alenia Space, Italy
- Coauthor
- Coauthor
Mr. Michele Crivello, Thales Alenia Space, Italy
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The Node 3 of the ISS was successfully overall leak tested at the Turin AAS-I plant in the month of February 2007. The test was performed with the Helium accumulation method, utilizing the Columbus/Nodes Transport Container as accumulation bag. This method requested the Node 3 pressurization up to 1 bar gauge but allowed an important cost saving as no Vacuum Chamber was needed. This approach is not usual for the Space Station Elements, but the used transport container (smaller than the one used for Node 1) allowed the performance of the test in few days and with a good accuracy. Test results were in line with predictions and more than 20 times less than the allowed overall Node 3 Atmosphere leakage. The conduction of the test was under AAS-I responsibility and the operation were conducted in the AAS-I Clean Room 2 and related class 100K Airlock of Torino plant. This paper describes the preparation activities, the precautions taken before the test and the efforts to improve test duration and accuracy. A discussion of the test results and a description of the lesson learnt it then provided.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-C2.1.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.