The SEC played host to the Orion capsule to ready it for an uncrewed mission. Orion recently underwent two months of extensive studies, including thermal-vacuum tests that subjected the spacecraft to temperatures ranging from minus 250°F (minus 157°C) to 255°F (124°C). Orion was also evaluated to ensure its integrated electronics systems would perform optimally during launch and flight.
The complex — part of NASA’s Plum Brook Station, located about an hour’s drive west of Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio — is home to the world’s largest collection of space-dedicated testing facilities, ones that assess stresses during liftoff, flight and extended missions from vibration and sound, electromagnetic radiation, and the general impacts of continued exposure to a hard vacuum.
The SEC recently concluded a series of tests on the almost-ready Orion space capsule that, as an essential constituent of the Artemis I mission, is scheduled to fly uncrewed around the Moon in late 2021. The spacecraft was subjected to variations in extreme temperatures and electromagnetic fluctuations it must eventually endure. The Orion studies were originally slated to last for three months but were completed three weeks ahead of schedule.
“Historically we’ve seen a lot of testing of large items: a lot of big stuff, especially acoustic tests of entire systems,” said Robert Kowalski, SEC facilities manager. “There’s really no other place in the world to do that kind of work.”
The nation’s space program includes a strong commitment to involvement of the private sector. The SEC has conducted a range of studies for commercial firms, including SpaceX, Orbital ATK (now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) and Dynetics. In particular, companies have looked to the complex for help assessing the strength and endurance of fairings, structures that cover, protect and help the aerodynamic performance of space vehicles as they launch and transit the turbulence of the atmosphere on the way into orbit and beyond.
More commercial-space testing work may be in the offing for the SEC, including assessments of potential lunar habitats and human landing systems (HLS) for both the Moon and Mars. NASA has selected three U.S. companies — Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX — to design and develop HLS for the agency’s Artemis program, the ultimate goal of which is to send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface by 2024.
“We’re going to keep busy because there’s a lot we’ll need to get done,” said Bob Kowalski, SEC facilities manager. “That’s especially true for any work on human landing systems. It really opens up testing opportunities working with multiple companies.”
The SEC is supported in part by the Space Environments Testing Management Office (SETMO), which is charged by NASA to evaluate and oversee the agency’s investments in major testing facilities at nine research centers across the country. The agency conducts extensive studies to ensure astronaut safety and optimal operation of the equipment astronauts fly and use. SETMO provides sustainment and maintenance funds to ensure that NASA’s billion-dollar-plus inventory remains on the leading edge as the nation plans for extended lunar and Martian exploratory and landing missions.
