THERMAL VACUUM QUALIFICATION TESTS, ACCELERATED LIFE TESTS AND STRIPD0WN OF AN MSDS QUALIFICATION:MODEL-ANTENNA POINTING MECHANISM

摘要

A Qualification Model antenna pointing mechanism, manufactured by Marconi Space Defence Systems Ltd, has been tested under thermal vacuum conditions at ESTL. , During initial Qualification testing, the errors of pointing at four specified temperature conditions were derived from optical measurements of angular rotation about the X and Y axes of rotation. The mechanism was then subjected to a'six month accelerated life test during which each axis in turn was continuously cycled over ± 1 degree of rotation at each of the four temperature conditions. The Qualification tests were then repeated and the mechanism was dismantled.