SPACECRAFT

Rocket boosters and spacecraft are subject to intense acoustic environments during launch, which induce high levels of vibration in structural elements and equipment. In addition, elastic structural interactions with propulsion systems and flight control systems can produce low-frequency, high-deflection flight instabilities.

GTL has five primary testbeds; however, unique testbeds can be constructed as necessary to meet a specific test project. Inside the GTL ,the 40,000 lbf shakers for the vertical and horizontal testbeds are mounted to seismic floors. Outside the GTL enclosure are two more testbeds, an 18,000 lbf vertical testbed and a 20,000 lbf horizontal testbed. The GTL also houses a 8,000 lbf human-rated vibration testbed. The laboratory typically provides testing for subsystems and smaller components from as large as an aircraft rudder to as small as a 4 oz heart rate monitor.