De-risk assessment: From Virtual Vibration Testing to a Digital Test Facility for Spacecraft

The De-risk activity aimed at identifying a way forward towards the development of a “Digital Test Facility for Spacecraft”, including Vibration Testing, Thermal Testing and Optical Testing.

Digital Test Facility for Spacecraft is a novel approach for its complexity that can be a game-changer for the industry and the space community in general, revolutionising the current practice in terms of tests performed and pre-/post-test activities.Multiple approaches have been identified and traded-off. One, so-called “Hybrid Approach with Multiple Models”, was selected as most promising. The assessment was overall positive, and the existing SW technology could be used to implement such an approach.Shorter development time for any space related Program and more accurate model predictions to reduce design margins.After the De-risk was completed, the group in Uni Surrey dissolved and the principal investigators moved to different fields. It was therefore not recommended to pursue this very GSTP with this group despite the positive outcome.