The demands of launch and the environment in space can be hard on a spacecraft heading
into orbit – or beyond.
From booster ignition through separation from the rocket, the spacecraft will be exposed
to intense vibrations, extreme loads, harsh temperatures and more.
Long before launch day, NASA’s Launch Services Program identifies these factors to ensure
the spacecraft is prepared for the environments it will encounter.
Michael Carney Chief, Flight Analysis Division
NASA’s Launch Services Program These fields range in everything from flight
design, and guidance and control, to structural dynamics, to thermal and fluids, and even
electromagnetic interference and compatibility.
The spacecraft team runs a series of environmental tests, and once the satellite arrives at the
launch site, it undergoes additional prelaunch tests – including fueling and spin balancing.
Understanding these factors -- and how they relate to the mission’s requirements – helps
maximize the chances of a successful launch and mission.