Image Credit: MIT-LL
Engineers and technicians at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts built two optical payloads for the United States Space Force to be hosted on separate Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) satellites in geostationary orbit. These payloads will support the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission for the United States Space Force. QZSS and the Hosted Payloads are planned to launch aboard Japan’s H3 rocket.
The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021, on an Ariane 5 rocket and the first images from JWST were released to the public on July 11, 2022. The telescope will allow astronomers worldwide to study every phase in the history of our Universe from the Big Bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life, to the evolution of our Solar System. The telescope is the largest ever launched into space; over 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope.
Flotron Dual Support Rotation Fixtures with custom payload interface tooling supported the Northrop Grumman built Forward and Aft Unitized Pallet Structure (UPS) composite assemblies. These custom Flotron fixtures included custom bottle jacks that were positioned around the perimeter of the tubular interface frames to eliminate deflection and simulate a Zero G configuration during assembly. Flotron performed a proof load and acceptance test and included both a deliverable oof load and acceptance test report in addition to a structural substantiation report.
The Beryllium mirror assemblies were supported by a Flotron 961 Dual Support Rotation Fixture during testing at Marshall Space Flight Center. The Flotron 961 has a 4,000 lbs load rating considering SFy = 3 and SFu = 5, and a swing radius ranging from 50”-59”. Ball Aerospace’s backing structure interfaced with Flotron’s standard P15/A36 interfaces. The 900 Series’ coupling system has a stair-step resistant design that eliminates gearbox jerking during rotation of the mirrors from the 12 to 16 o’clock position, resulting in smooth motion.
A Flotron 700 Series Dual Support Rotation Fixture supported Lockheed Martin’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) during AI&T. This XD759 is cleanroom compatible with custom end frames, interfaces, and lubricants. The top two holes of the P8 mounting plate interfaces are slotted through vertically to maximize ergonomics of the loading and unloading process. Krytox GPL207 grease is used on the trunnion shafts, jacks, and casters. Flotron also performed a proof load test and provided a deliverable report.
Flotron supported Johns Hopkins APL with cleanroom compatible SFP-635 rotation fixtures that support assembly, integration, and test activities for NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. The SFP-635 rotation fixture has a 335 lb load rating considering SFy = 3 and SFu = 5, electrostatic grounding features, electroless nickel plated parts, a 15° index plate can be physically pinned to the vertical upright to lockout the rotation axis, P8 mounting interfaces, and a finish option compatible in a CLASS 10K (ISO 7) clean room environments.
Learn more about Flotron’s SFP-635 Series Rotation Fixture product line.
On May 15, the primary structure for NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft returned to Johns Hopkins APL. Now equipped with its chemical propulsion system and elements of its electrical propulsion system – installed at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Redmond, Washington – the spacecraft will remain at APL through final assembly and prelaunch testing.
The DART mission is NASA’s demonstration of kinetic impactor technology, impacting an asteroid to adjust its speed and path. DART will be the first-ever space mission to demonstrate asteroid deflection by kinetic impactor.
Flotron’s 700 Series Rotation Fixtures can now be ordered with an Electromechanical Lift Option with push button control that is compatible in clean room environments. A battery option is also available.