Satellite Vibration Test

The National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) in the UK, operated by RAL Space in Oxfordshire, is designed for environmental testing of complete satellites and large sub-assemblies. It houses the UK’s largest combined facilities for a range of tests including Vibration, EMC/Antenna Range, Acoustic, Mass Property, and Thermal testing. The facility can handle payloads up to 7 tonnes and can simulate all launch conditions, including a pyro-shock test for simulating satellite separation from the launch vehicle. A crucial part of NSTF is its Dynamic Test Data Acquisition System, which was chosen after an international competitive tender. A 512-channel Prosig system was selected, comprising two 256-channel subsystems with four DATS-hyper12 chassis each. These can be deployed in different locations if needed. The system supports 24-bit acquisition channels compatible with Accelerometers, Microphones, and Voltage parameters, and supports both IEP and TEDS.