Testing Electronic Components and Materials
The quality of High Reliable (Hi-Rel) and selected commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic components is the fundamental basis in aerospace engineering performance. The guarantee of project success in outer space depends on it.
The Spectrum team performs environmental testing for EEE (Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical) components, electronic modules and materials delivering ad-hoc engineering solutions to comply with the demanding requirements of space projects in a very efficient way.
1. Radiation testing
Radioactive environments may affect the reliability of EEE parts and systems by degrading some electrical parameters of the device leading in a worst case scenario to an irreversible malfunction.
Two radiation effects are of main importance for EEE parts:
– Total Ionizing Dose (TID) gamma radiation (accumulative radiation process), and
– Single Event Effects (SEE) by using energetic protons or heavy ions.
Spectrum Aerospace has the experience to perform the tests according to MIL-Specs. or ESA standard for radiation, i.e. for TID the ESCC 22900 and for SEE the ESCC 25100, or project specific. All radiation tests services include sample preparation, programming, test board development and final reporting. Enhanced Low Dose Rate (ELDRS) Test can be also done for special cases.
Radiation effects are of special importance in space technology but also in harsh environments on the Earth, e.g. nuclear medicine and industry, material science, high energy physics, etc.
2. Thermal-Vacuum testing
Space EEE parts and boards have to work under extreme thermal and vacuum conditions. Radical temperature changes over several tens of degrees in few minutes stress the hardware and can reduce the component lifetime considerably.
Spectrum Aerospace performs destructive and non-destructive (cycling) tests using biasing or not and according to the project requirements.
3. Mechanical testing
Satellite subsystems and components have to resist different mechanical forces especially during launch. This situation can be simulated effectively by performing vibration and mechanical shock tests. Both tests are prepared and executed by Spectrum Aerospace following the project specifications.