Characterization and verification of micro-vibration environment in GOCE satellite

Paper number

IAC-08.C2.3.10

Author

Mr. ROBERTO ULLIO, ThalesAlenia Space Italia S.p.A., Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Pietro Carlo Marucchi Chierro, Thales Alenia Space Italy, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. MARCO NOTARNICOLA, ThalesAlenia Space Italia S.p.A., Italy

Coauthor

Mr. GIUSEPPE CATASTINI, ThalesAlenia Space Italia S.p.A., Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Stefano Cesare, Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Stefano Capitanio, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Year

2008

Abstract

One of the major goals for the current and future space utilisation projects is conducting experiments and processes in a very low gravity environment, the so-called micro-vibration environment. This requirement has a considerable impact at all levels of spacecraft system design.
Usually this micro-vibration environment shall be made available in low-earth-orbiting space systems over long periods of days and months without interruptions. It is the intent of the ESA GOCE project, to provide a micro-vibration environment as required by such earth observation goal.
The spacecraft system consequently has to be designed such that micro-vibration acceleration levels limit are not exceeded during the performance of the GOCE measurement and calibration modes.
In this paper the explanation of the industrial organization realized, from Satellite system level down to equipment level, to manage this challenging engineering problem, is presented.
The organisation of all activities which are necessary to not exceed the specified limits micro-vibration environment was realized and introduced into a control plan as detailed.
Identification of all potential mechanical disturbance sources is explained and the corresponding verification method, from review of design through analysis to testing, was applied for all of them.
The design and verification activities do not depend on the control of perturbation sources, only. The structural transmission paths of vibration to the micro-vibration specified response locations or, in other words, the interaction of the micro-vibration disturbances with the spacecraft body and its structural dynamics must be controlled as well.
The assessment of the micro-vibrations transmission to the location of each ASH accelerometer via the computed and tests transfer functions is also exposed.
The analytical and experimental micro-vibration assessments executed in the frame of GOCE project is summarised with the evaluation of the compliance status.

Abstract document

IAC-08.C2.3.10.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.C2.3.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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