Vibration Testing of the NASA Constellation X Spectroscopy X-Ray Telescope Reflectors

摘要

Understand at what g-level the glass will fracture in the current mounting scheme. The data will help the Mechanical Systems Engineering Team of the SXT portion of the Con-X program at NASA-GSFC determine whether the reflectors will survive the loads generated in a launch environment. Design improvements are then considered. Provide data by which to correlate the design team's analytical models. The data collected by the vibration test will be implemented to fix and improve the current prediction models. Accurate models allow for more simulation and less physical testing, which could possibly save time and money. Create a baseline by which to compare other mounting schemes. The data collected in the current mounting scheme will be used as a comparison to other mounting schemes. Various materials that interface the glass reflectors and the titanium struts may be effectively compared to determine the optimal mounting configuration. Develop a vibration test that is low cost, but extremely useful to the program. December 2003 marked severe budget cuts to the NASA constellation X program. This in turn forced the Mechanical Systems Engineering Team to cancel a previously schedule vibration test that was estimated to cost $30,000. This new series of tests will cost $1,000 for unlimited use of the vibration facility for one year and some minor costs for machining and buying of the test hardware. This thesis will be made available to the members of the NASA Con-X program and engineering students at The George Washington University.