Sprite Passes Structural Qual; Doesn’t Give Up the Ghost
Huntsville, Alabama – February 15, 2023 Last week, Blinky was proof and burst tested at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to verify design margins. The test was an overwhelming success, as the test article exceeded design margin expectations.
Rubicon built four engineering development units (EDUs); each intended to address a specific challenge from Engineering Trials through to Flight Article certification and delivery. Notably, EDU2 named “Binky”, was a structural qualification unit. It was used to verify structural design margins for the additively manufactured components and the tank welds.
Blinky’s comprehensive test campaign commenced with a pneumatic proof test at the acceptance level. The unit was painted with correlation patterning, then exposed to its proof pressure of 1.5 times the maximum design pressure (MDP). Specialized evaluation techniques, such as structured light scanning and radiographic inspections were used. A series of cameras were used in conjunction with the painted pattern to assess real-time expansion of the front face. Following depressurization, the data was evaluated and concluded that there was zero plastic deformation after proof testing.
Blinky’s testing advanced to exposure to the burst pressure of 2.5 times MDP. At this pressure, designs typically have very low or zero theoretical structural margin remaining, but the test article is expected to survive for a hold period of 5 minutes. After passing that hold, the pressure was incrementally increased to determine the true limit. Remarkably, Sprite withstood pressures reaching more than 6 times MDP before pressures reached the facility’s upper testing limit. The test was ended. Blinky did not “give up the ghost”, and the test was declared a success. Sprite demonstrated structural margins far beyond the predicted failure limit. Sprite has passed its structural qualification testing. This milestone greenlights Rubicon to begin assembly of the first flight article. The first one, named Clyde, is for a NASA project. Stay tuned!
About Sprite: Sprite is a self-contained additively-manufactured propulsion system. The first version, the Mark I, is designed to provide over 1200 N-s of total impulse. The Mark II will double the performance. Sprite was designed to as main propulsion for a cubesat, and to serve roles as collision avoidance and attitude control for smallsats. Up to eight modules can be configured to work as one. More information HERE.
About ASCENT: ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic) propellant is an advanced monopropellant formulation developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), formerly referred to as AF-M315E. More information HERE.
About Rubicon Space Systems: Rubicon Space Systems is a manufacturer of thrusters and propulsion systems that use the advanced space craft energetic non-toxic (ASCENT) propellant AF-M315E. Applications are in-space propulsion, collision avoidance, de-orbit, and multi-mode. Our team leads the world in the development and infusion of ASCENT-based technology. ASCENT (Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic) propellant is an advanced monopropellant formulation developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), formerly referred to as AF-M315E.