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| Kibo's Manipulator Console Acoustic Test |
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| Manipulator console Image |
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| Manipulator console |
An acoustic test was conducted on the manipulator console of the Japanese
Experiment Module "Kibo" from June 30 to July 6, 1999, at Tsukuba Space Center.
Here is the report.
 | Test
Objectives | During a Space Shuttle launch, a very severe
acoustic environment is generated by the Shuttle engines and boosters. The purpose
of this test is to simulate the acoustic environment to confirm that Kibo's manipulator
console can endure this environment.
| Test
Procedures |
The test was conducted in the following steps using the
proto-flight model of the console.
| (1) | Functional test
prior to the acoustic test, pressure/leak test, visual inspection. |
| (2) | Acoustic Test | | (3) | Functional test after
the acoustic test, pressure/leak test, visual inspection. |
The functional test confirmed that each device works normally or satisfies electrical
performance requirements. In the pressure test, a pressure equal to 1.5 times
the estimated actual operating pressure was applied to the cooling water pipe,
and the pipe did not crack or deform. Also In the leak test helium gas was used
to confirm that no cooling water leaked from the pipe junctions.
| *The console has cooling water circulating pipes to remove the heat it generates. |
The acoustic test was conducted using the facility in Tsukuba Space
Center. Sound with frequencies between 31.5Hz to 10,000Hz was applied to change
acoustic pressure, and the vibration data was recorded by more than 100 acceleration
sensors attached to the console. The simulated sound is like a roar. The low frequency
output levels of the acoustic test facility reach 70,000w, which is almost 470
times the ordinary home audio system output of about 150w.
After the
acoustic test, the functional test, pressure/leak test, visual inspection were
conducted to confirm that the acoustic test did not cause problems with the console.
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| Attaching acceleration sensors | An
Acceleration Sensor | Manipulator
Console in the Acoustic Test Facility (The hole in the wall is the source of the
sound.) | Acoustic Test Facility Control
Room |
| Other
Tests to Follow | Following this acoustic test, several tests
will be conducted with the manipulator console alone. These included a noise test
which confirms that the noise generated by the console itself is less than the
criteria, an electromagnetic test which confirms that electromagnetic interference
noise generated by the console does not affect other equipment and that the console
is not affected by other equipment, and a maintainability test to confirm that
maintenance activities can be performed easily. After those tests, larger scale
tests will continue, such as those conducted with the console connected to the
Kibo manipulator.
Last Update: Sep. 14, 1999
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