All articles tagged with #space testing
ESA's Plato spacecraft completed rigorous space-like testing in the Large Space Simulator, validating its cameras and thermal systems under extreme hot/cold conditions as it edges toward an early 2027 launch on Ariane 6 to hunt Earth-like exoplanets around Sun-like stars.
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has successfully completed a series of rigorous environmental tests at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, simulating the extreme conditions it will face during its 1.6-billion-mile journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. The tests included exposure to intense heat and cold, radiation, vacuum, and vibrations to ensure the spacecraft's resilience. Scheduled for launch in October 2024, Europa Clipper will investigate Europa's potential to support life by studying its icy shell, surface interactions with the ocean below, composition, and geology.
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane and its Shooting Star cargo module undergo testing at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in preparation for a mission to the International Space Station later this year, with the spaceplane set to deliver over 7,800 pounds of cargo. The testing includes exposure to launch and re-entry vibrations, as well as simulation of space environment conditions. NASA's collaboration with Sierra Space reflects a push for more commercial opportunities in space for the benefit of humanity.