Thermo-elastic distortion tests (TD/TED)
The unusual environmental conditions in space can lead to antennas, reflectors or basic structures deforming due to temperature loads and/or vacuum. This can have a major impact on the satellite’s functionality. It is therefore indispensable to first carry out tests on earth which closely reflect reality.
IABG has different measurement systems for this purpose:
Digital photogrammetry / videogrammetry
- Highly precise photogrammetric measurements of absolute geometry and relative deformation of surfaces under atmospheric and vacuum conditions
- Test items up to diameters of 5 m can be measured with an accuracy of ± 15 µm at 1σ
- The method requires application of reflecting targets on the test item
Laser ESPI
- Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) is suitable for deformation measurements with an extreme resolution (< 50nm)
- Test implementation in the vibration free 2m-TVA
