MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1.1. Introduction on Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Facility (AIT)

In any spacecraft development, be it a manned or unmanned mission, for scientific research or as a space transportation, a spacecraft with its payload must be able to withstand the rigors of the lift-off and ascent environment occur during the launch phase, and, the extreme thermal conditions and operational environment experienced by the spacecraft and its payload once it is in orbit. This include the effects of intense acoustic and vibration generated by engine ignitions during lift-off, shocks generated during separation of stages and fairing, shocks during deployment of solar panels, temperature variation between extreme hot temperature to extreme cold temperature, vacuum condition, solar radiation and many other effects experienced by the spacecraft. Both mechanical and thermal effects introduced a lot of constraints on the structure design of a spacecraft and therefore, it must be thoroughly tested up to the system components to ensure the survivability of the spacecraft and its payload in space. And the testing conditions on Earth should simulate as close to as what will be experience by the spacecraft and its payload upon lift-off and while in space.

The Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Centre (AITC) completed in 2011, is a facility that will provide those testing conditions as what will be experience by the spacecraft and its payload. The cost of a building a spacecraft is never cheap, thus, making it even more important to have it thoroughly tested on ground to ensure survivability of the spacecraft exceeds what it has been design for.  Therefore, the AITC facility is constructed to accommodate the testing requirements of both ground-based instruments and fully qualified space-flight hardware.

Environmental Conditions of the Facility:

Temperature                    :               22 ± 3°C

Humidity                            :               55 ± 10% RH

Particle (<0.5 µm)         :               100,000 unit / ft3

Ground Connection      :               < 1.0 Ω

√ Device under test (DUT) Receiving Airlock

√  Spacious high bay for integration works

√  Mechanical ground support equipment such crane, forklift, etc., are available

1.2. Main function of Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Facility (AIT) 

The AIT Facility is a cleanroom of class ISO 8 (or class 100,000 according to Federal Standard 209E) with a controlled environment and equipped with a large integration hall and variety of mechanical ground support equipment. The facility is able to simulate the actual launch and space environment as experienced by a satellite and its components during lift-off, separation and in orbit as well as able to be used to conduct testing and measurement for other field such as electronics, automotive, etc. The facility is able to provide a wide spectrum of test services, all under one roof, as well as providing managerial and technical competences needed to operate the environmental test facility.

1.3 Testing and Measurement Services offered at this facility

  1. Vibration Test
  2. Electromagnetic Compatibility Test
  3. Thermal Vacuum Test
  4. Reverberation Acoustic Test
  5. Alignment Measurement
  6. Mass Properties Measurement
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