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Lecture 5: Interface Verification and Testing

For additional details, refer to the appropriate Interface Definition Documents (IDD) for the carrier of interest:
Middeck IDD: http://shuttlepayloads.jsc.nasa.gov/data/PayloadDocs/PayloadDocs.htm
Spacehab IDD: http://www.boeing.com/nosearch/sh_verification/
ISS IDD http://stationpayloads.jsc.nasa.gov/J-reference/documents/ssp57000E.pdf
EXPRESS IDD: SSP 52000-IDD ERP
Payload Safety: NASA JSC PSRP (Payload Safety Review Panel) http://jsc-web-pub.jsc.nasa.gov/psrp/
Toxicology: NASA JSC Toxicology http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/toxicology/
Station Documents: http://stationpayloads.jsc.nasa.gov/J-reference/ Document Tree

Testing / Interface Verifications

Functional Testing
Nominal Systems Functionality / Complex system interactions / experiment-facility interaction
Environmental compatibility (temperature, vacuum, acceleration/microgravity, radiation)
Off-nominal responses (safety, backup/redundancy, overheat, overpressure, communication loss, etc.)
Science Verifications
Science compatible with Spaceflight Operational Environment ? Sanity Check !
Science in hardware validation ?
Procedure / protocol verifications / science return (preparation - launch to landing analysis)
Compatibility verifications (bio-compatibility, operational constraints, sensitivity,
environment: atmosphere, pressure, temperature, microgravity)
Interface Verification
Interface Verifications - verify proper function and connectivity between experiment and facility (connectors, power,
data, video, fluids, ...)
Test Requirements: http://jsc-web-pub.jsc.nasa.gov/psrp/docs/7002.pdf
Structural Compatibility
Vibrational Loads shake test
Acceleration (launch, landing, crash) analytical, centrifuge
Eigenfrequencies analytical, shake test
Microgravity disturbance - test
 Acoustics:
Acoustic Emissions
Acoustic Susceptibility
Containment depressurization:
Vented Container - Vent Rate Analysis
Sealed Container Structural Integrity under combined loads (pressure + temperature, etc.)
1. Nominal Ops 2.0 psi/min Repressurization/Depressurization
2. Contingency (other than Bailout) 9.0 psi/min Depressurization/Repressurization
3. Emergency Bailout Requirements: Payloads located within the crew compartment area shall be designed to meet the following depressurization
requirements in order to insure they will not present a hazard to the crew or to the Orbiter which could jeopardize crew survivability or impede crew egress
during emergency bailout procedures:
Initial (Max) 15.2 PSIA / Final (Min) 3.95 PSIA / Max Depressurization Rate 24.0 PSI/Minute

Human factors
Push-off (kick-ff): 125 lbf over 4x4 area (foot)
Max. Limits of necessary force to actuate / manipulate
Electrical Compatibility
Connector (pins=unpowered, sockets=powered, recessed), Pin Assignments
Signal / power / interface compatibility (voltage, softstart, baud rate, data format, ....)
Wire Size Analysis / Fusing (fire / over-heat)
Power Draw (current limit) , Energy consumption (fuel / battery limit)
Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC:
Electromagnetic Emissions / Interference (EMI)
Electromagnetic Susceptibility
Batteries stored energy, hazardous electrolytes, toxic combustion products (Lithium batteries).
Materials Utilization:
Flammability (MIUL)
note: 30% O2 (pre-breath prior to EVA) or 100% O2 (EVA suit) changes flammability characteristics
Offgas / Toxicity (MIUL):
SMAC: Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations for Selected Airborne Contaminants
SWEG: Spacecraft Water Exposure Guidelines for Selected Waterborne Contaminants
Corrosion (MIUL)
Materials Compatibility (safety: containment, corrosion, science: biocompatibility)
 Experimental Fluids / Samples:
Toxicity (health of astronauts)
Restricted materials (example: alcohol)
Ionizing radiation (isotope markers)
Thermal Compatibility
Heat Rejection
Max. / Min allowable temperatures (touch, bare skin)
Condensation
Safety Verification
Payload Safety at JSC: http://jsc-web-pub.jsc.nasa.gov/psrp/
Flight Safety Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP)
Ground Safety Ground Safety Review Panel (GSRP)
OSHA, lab safety, handling, pressure, electric, hoisting,.....

Science Verification
Flight Access: Late Launch / Early Retrieval
Space Life Sciences: load as late as possible: limited shelf life: L-24 hrs.
Retrieve as early as possible: typically within 4 hrs. of landing.
Sample preparation: unique facilities on site (KSC), sample shipment (safety limitations)
Sample retrieval: backup landing sites
Sample preservation: ISS cargo flight delay / on-orbit duration

Flight Phases
Launch/Landing: limited heat rejection / limited power availability / outlets (reduce power / unpowered; passive experiments)
EVA mission reduced pressure = reduced heat rejection / hotter environment

Crew Access Automation vs. Crew Operated

Detailed planning for schedule, resources, timeline, procedures (nominal and off-nominal)
 Shuttle: first and last mission day very busy or debilitating (space sickness)
ISS: docked operations very busy (loading/unloading)
Sleep, eat, house-keeping, scheduling, delays due to trouble-shooting; weekend off
Inaccessibility of astronaut / intermediate layers of bureaucracy
Complex operations: safety, interfaces etc. limited flexibility

Materials Compatibility
Testing / experience
Biocompatibility
1. Offgassing (internal, external, biogenically produced/accumulating in sealed environment)
2. Contamination (heavy metals in solution, cleaning agents, fungus / bacteria)
3. Corrosion by-products
4. Related resources: Biocompatibility: Assessment of Medical Devices and Materials.
5. Humans / Animals: better characterized than plants;
6. Tighter Sealed Environment potential accumulation / concentration.
Materials Compatibility
1. Corrosion (exposure duration, temperature, concentration)
2. Electrochemical, Oxidation, Stress Corrosion
3. Cleaning / Sterilization processes (temperature, pressure, chemicals/solvents)
4. Materials Compatibility examples:
http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/ChemComp.asp
http://www.rtpcompany.com/info/guide/resistance.htm
http://www.upchurch.com/TechInfo/ChemSelect.asp

Toxicological Assessment:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/toxicology/
Assessing and documenting the health hazards of specific potential contaminants of spacecraft air or water before each flight. The
assessments are documented in:
HMSTs - (Hazardous Materials Summary Tables) are printed documents that list all chemicals or biological materials on a given
flight or mission and the toxic hazard level of each material,
 HazMats - (Hazardous Materials data files) are computerized, searchable database files that contain the same data as the
corresponding printed HMST,
SMACs - (Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations) are printed documents that establish the levels of a specific airborne
contaminant that are acceptable for various durations of exposure and document how those values were derived, and
SWEGs - (Spacecraft Water Exposure Guidelines) are printed documents that establish the levels of specific waterborne
contaminants that are acceptable for various exposure durations and document how those values were derived.
Measuring airborne contaminants in the atmospheres of manned spacecraft: This is done by
Offgas testing - Pre-flight testing of flight hardware for the levels of volatile materials released
Monitoring - In-flight quantification of atmospheric pollutants, either real-time or near-real-time, and by
Post-flight analysis - of archived samples of spacecraft atmospheric pollutants.

Quantitative Analysis of Offgassed Volatile Materials:

NASA requirements state that "Materials used in habitable areas of spacecraft, including the materials of the spacecraft, stowed
equipment, and experiments, must be evaluated for flammability, odor, and offgassing characteristics". The Toxicology Laboratory
performs "offgas" tests on flight hardware to measure the levels of volatile materials outgassed under standard test conditions. To
schedule an offgassing test for a flight article, call the JSC Toxicology Laboratory at 281-483-7249. Offgas testing is also performed
at several other NASA facilities including White Sands Testing Facility, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Langley Research Center.
Testing:
measure volatile compounds from experiment (solvents, cleaning agent, plastifiers,..): 72 hours in sealed chamber at 120 F, ambient
pressure.
Analytical:
MAPTIS Data base (currently restricted access). Materials and Processes Technical Information System (MAPTIS), the only approved
NASA-wide materials database chartered to provide materials information for all NASA facilities and NASA support contractors.
http://see.msfc.nasa.gov/mp/db_maptis.html

Electrical Compatibility
Wire Size Analysis / Fusing (fire / over-heat)
Wire resistance= heat dissipation. Current limited by temperature of insulation (fire).
 Space/Microgravity: reduced convection lower allowable currents. Compare vacuum vs. pressurized cabin rating.
Spaceflight: restricted materials: no PVC insulation (70C), use PTFE Teflon instead.

Fuses

Mechanical Fuse - Thermal (resistance)

Requires time to heat up and trip not an accurate nor rapid protection
Fastest trip at highest current (short-circuit)
Only sometimes usable as over-current protection
Electronic Fuse Current measurement
Fast; may trip due to in-rush current
Thermal derating of fuses fuse may trip at lower current due to:
Higher temperatures.
In microgravity, due to lack of convective cooling.
Resettable fuses vs. Blow Fuses:
limited resupply / crew time / accessibility.

SSPCM Trip Characteristics E-T-A Trip Characteristics

Power Draw (current limit), Energy consumption (fuel / battery limit)

Power typical limited by max. allowable current.
Short inrush current may be problem with fast electronic fuses / switches (start-up current, voltage drop, reboot).
Energy limiting for stored energy (fuel cell fuel, battery-capacity)
For thermal analysis: assume all electric energy = thermal energy.
Voltage drop in supply lines (28VDC line at 10 A = as low as 20 V.
Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC:
EMISSIONS: Radiated and conducted electromagnetic EMISSIONS from payload, or
SUSCEPTIBILITY to radiated and conducted emissions from others

Electromagnetic Emissions / Interference (EMI)

Electromagnetic Susceptibility
EM noise,
lightning strike,
voltage fluctuation: 28 VDC, +/- 4 VDC

Acoustic Emissions:
noise emitted by payload (fans, airflow, motors, valves, ...) = human health
TABLE 4-IX NOISE LIMITS FOR CONTINUOUS PAYLOADS
RACK NOISE LIMITS AT 0.6 METERS DISTANCE MAXIMUM DESIGN LEVELS FOR ACTIVE HARDWARE
ITEMS
A B C D
FREQUENCY BAND TOTAL RACK EXPRESS RACK PAYLOAD SINGLE ITEM OPERATED
OUTSIDE OF THE RACK
[Hz] [dB*] [dB*] [dB]
63 64 58 59
125 56 50 52
250 50 42 45
500 45 38 39
1000 41 32 35
2000 39 32 33
4000 38 32 32
8000 37 31 31
*dB, re 20 Pa
 a) b)

c) d)
Figure 4. PGBA in Maxtor Hemi-Anechoic Test Chamber Sound Power Setup (a, b, c) using 10 microphones (and 180 payload rotation for
microphone positions 11-20) and a 1.15 meter radius (2x payload dimensions). Sound Pressure Setup (d) from air inlet (loudest location). Mufflers seen
in picture c.

Decompression Vented Container / Sealed Container

structural integrity for 16 psid often not feasible vented container
But: it takes time to vent !! Large enough hole / permeability to ensure differential pressure build-up is acceptable.
Thermal Interfaces:
Touch Temperature:
Intentional contact is defined as contact for normal operational manipulation such as lifting, holding, or grasping. Incidental
contact is defined as accidental or unintended contact. For both cases, the temperature range of -18Celsius to +49Celsius (0
Fahrenheit to 120 Fahrenheit) is the acceptable range for bare skin contact for metallic surfaces. The upper temperature limit
for bare skin contact is higher than 49 Celsius for surfaces having thermal properties of nonmetallic materials.
Max. allowed touch temperature limits max. possible exhaust temperature, and therefore max. Amount of rejected heat: Q =
m(dot) * Cp * Delta-T.
Heat Rejection:
 Q = m(dot) * Cp * Delta-T [Watt]
Delta-T = Tout Tin
Payloads: Cabin air, avionics air (STS, ISS) or water cooling (ISS only).
Acoustic limits cabin air cooling (also: clogged inlets, dirty air).
Air low density, lower heat capacity large volumetric flow (large ducts)
H2O higher density, higher heat capacity smaller volumetric flow (thinner/smaller tubes)
Condensation:
All surfaces exposed to cabin air must be above dew point (17C).
Add insulation (closed cell or similar to prevent diffusion of moist air water accumulation).

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