• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.40-46
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• 2021

At launch, satellites are exposed to various types of structural loads, such as quasi-static loads, sinusoidal vibrations, acoustic/random vibrations, and shocks. The launch environment test is aimed at verifying the structural stability of the test object against the launch environment. Various types of launch environments are simulated by simple vibration, acoustic, and shock tests considering possible test conditions in ground. However, the difference between the launch environment and the test environment is one of the causes of excessive testing. To prevent overtesting, a notching technique that adjusts the frequency range and the input load considering the design load is applied. For notching, specific procedures are established considering the satellite development concept, selected launch vehicle, higher system requirements, and test target level. In this study, the notching method, established procedure, and development of a notching toolkit for efficient testing are described.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.1234-1239
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• 2000

KOMPSAT-1(Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite), which opened the space era in Korean peninsula, was developed from 1994 and launched successfully in December of 1999 at VAFB, USA. This paper presents a launch environment test of KOMPSAT and a short description of environment test facilities at Korea Aerospace Research Institute as well. The launch environment tests of KOMPSAT-1 satellite, such as vibration, acoustic, pyro-shock and mass properties measurement test, were performed during its system integration and test period. The participating engineers concluded that KOMPSAT-1 satellite would withstand environment during its launch period.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.747-750
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• 2004

After launching, spacecraft is exposed to extreme environments. So spacecraft should be tested after design/manufacture to verify whether components can be operated functionally. Acceleration transferred from launch vehicle to spacecraft produces quasi-static load, sine vibration and random vibration. Random vibration is also induced by acoustic vibrations transferred by surface of spacecraft. And shock vibration is produced when spacecraft is separated from launch vehicle. To verify operation of spacecraft under these launch environments, separation shock test, sine vibration test, acoustic vibration test and random vibration test should be performed. This paper describes these launch environment test requirements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.1252-1258
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• 2000

Koreasat-3 was successfully launched by an Ariane IV launch vehicle on September 5, 1999. Although the primary purpose of the satellite is to replace Koreasat-l, it also can extend its communication service coverage over the Asia-Pacific region. A spacecraft is subjected to severe dynamic loads during launch period. To verify the safety of spacecraft under the launch environment, dynamic tests should be performed such as sine sweep, acoustic and separation shock tests. This paper presents the launch environment test results of Koreasat-3. A total of 188 acceleration responses was measured and compared with the design requirements of components and spacecraft. Dynamic characteristic change was also investigated by comparing between low-level pre/post vibration results. From the review of test results, it is concluded that Koreasat-3 was designed and manufactured with the margin of safety enough to survive the launch loads of Ariane IV.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.258-262
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• 2007

Satellite launch vehicle is exposed to some dynamic environment during its flight. Particularly, the safety of launch vehicle structure is surely verified under vibration environment in low frequency range. Sine sweep test is generally performed to describe this low frequency vibration environment. Dynamic property of vibration fixture is considered to get the correct property of target object. This vibration fixture should really be an extension of the armature in the form of a very rigid structure that can transfer the required force at the required frequency. An optimum fixture would have its lower natural frequency about 50% higher than the highest required forcing frequency in order to avoid fixture resonances during the test. In this study, the vibration mode analysis considering the mass of target object to design the vibration fixture. And the modal test of vibration fixture is performed to conform the design.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.273-278
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• 2006

In order to use a GPS antenna for launch vehicles, it should be installed on the skin of the vehicle and be able to normally receive the live GPS signals during the vehicle's full flight mission. The GPS antenna on the surface of the launch vehicle is, however, exposed to higher temperature than inner equipments of the vehicle due to aerodynamic heating generated during the flight. Test specification of the GPS antenna for qualification of hot-temperature is determined to $+95^{\circ}C$ that is higher than inner components by $25^{\circ}C$. Test results in this paper show that the GPS antenna normally operates under the above environment.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.94-104
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• 1996

The satellite experiences the launch environment such as vibration, acceleration, shock induced by rocket and the orbit environment such as high vacuum, no gravity, high temperature and cryogenic. Therefore, the satellite should be designed and manufactured to endure such environments. Also, special care must be taken on the assembly of parts and subsystem. Finally, we describe the environment test of microsatellite to ensure the reliable operation during launch period as well as in-orbit operation.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1999

The satellite experiences the severe launch environment such as vibration, acceleration, shock, and acoustics induced by rocket. Therefore, the satellite should be designed and manufactured to endure such severe launch environments. In this paper, we describe the structure of the KITSAT-3 FM(Flight Model) and the processes and results of the launch environmental test to ensure the reliability during launch period.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1051-1056
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• 2014

A Fuel Feeding Unit of electric propulsion system has been developed for the small-satellite applications. The fuel feeding unit stores the xenon gas with high pressure and density as a fuel. Xenon can affect to system stability since xenon has the transient condition under the critical point which is in ambient temperature on the launch environment. The functional and structural stability on the launch environment needs verification through the ground tests. The design points and verification tests of the system were discussed and test results were described on this text. The system stability on the launch environment was verified through these verification tests.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.898-903
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• 2011

Units assembled in the liquid-propellant propulsion system of launch vehicles should guarantee their on- and off-design performances under the various environments as well as at the various operation modes for the launch preparation and flight of launch vehicles. Units of liquid-propellant propulsion system can be installed in launch vehicle to insert satellite(s) into target orbit(s) only under the condition that all units must pass a series of tests to confirm whether those units perform normally as designed under the environment, which may be occurred in such stages of all development and operations as development, qualification, acceptance, assembly, pre-launch preparation, launch, and flight, and whether those units have been developed according to design requirements. Requirements for such tests have been already prepared in the advanced countries in launch vehicle systems based on experiences for decades. In Korea, where is now pursuing the development of KSLV-II, the research and development of launch vehicles using liquid-propellant propulsion system have been undergone during over 10 years. Hence test requirements for the development of units consisting of liquid-propellant propulsion system should be defined and Koreanized according to the domestic environment and circumstances and based on the experiences accumulated. In this paper requirements for the tests of units in liquid-propellant propulsion system, which can be feasible domestically, have been reviewed and defined.