CENTRO DE ENSAYOS DEL PROGRAMA ARIANE (CEPA): A NEW JOINT INTA-EADS CASA ESPACIO TEST FACILITY FOR THE QUALIFICATION OF LARGE ARIANE STRUCTURES

摘要

A new static test facility has been set up as the result of the cooperation between the Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aerospacial (INTA), and EADS CASA Espacio. The facility is tailored to provide response to the needs of the qualification of the structures belonging to the future versions of the launcher Ariane 5. The test centre is equipped with the required elements to perform the complete static qualification campaign of a large launcher structure. The hydraulic load control and the data acquisition systems are the principal elements of the laboratory, completed by a large test area which includes two test slabs at two different ground levels. The facility also includes a data monitorisation and post-processing, and provides remote access to the test data ('tele-testing') as a standard feature. A designated team of experienced personnel is in charge of insuring the execution of the test campaigns in accordance with the requested time schedules.