In 2000, a Space Shuttle main engine was undergoing a test firing on the launch pad, and the engine blew up. It was revealed that the catastrophic failure was the result of contamination which had been introduced into the engine’s fuel system during assembly and had gone unnoticed until the disastrous test firing. This is one example of how important it can be to ensure that contaminants are controlled during all phases of any assembly of spacecraft.
A comprehensive search of the internet for other spacecraft casualties resulting from introduction of contaminants was not fruitful. In fact, failures resulting from introduction of contaminants are very rare. This is due, in part, to the extreme care scientists and engineers take to ensure that contaminants do not disrupt operations. Mission success depends on careful attention to contaminant control.
ATI is introducing a new course which deals with this very subject.
The Space Environment: Implications for Spacecraft Design is a one day course that provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject of contamination control, with specific applications to the aerospace industry.
It is intended to provide insight on methods to
(a) quantify the cleanliness level required by various contamination sensitive surfaces,
(b) predict the end-of-life contamination level seen by those surfaces, and
(c) identify the contamination control techniques required to ensure mission success.
This course is designed to help Engineers with responsibility for the design and development of contamination sensitive systems or the facilities where they are assembled and tested.
If you are interested in having this course brought to your facility, please contact ATI so we can make that happen for you.