White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory (RHTL) is an access-controlled hazardous test area capable of simulating Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) impacts on spacecraft materials and components. This unique NASA facility was designed to safely handle and test hazardous targets, and simulates impacts on debris shielding, spacecraft, satellites, and spacesuits. Four Two-stage Light Gas Guns (2SLGGs) propel single 0.05 mm to 25.4 mm diameter projectiles to velocities in excess of 7.5 km/s. Because of WSTF’s remote location and safety experience, the RHTL is capable of implementing test programs that propel projectiles at toxic or explosive materials and components such as batteries, aerospace fluids, pressurized containers, and other hazardous targets in a controlled laboratory environment. Release energies up to 2.3 kg (5 lb) TNT equivalent can be accommodated within the facility’s sealed target chambers.
Services Provided
At WSTF, there are 1 inch caliber, .50 caliber, and .17 caliber guns. Firing these guns releases an extreme amount of energy, thus requiring the facility to be remotely located, housing underground bunkers and following access control protocol. The two-stage gun uses standard smokeless gunpowder as its first stage and highly compressible gas for the second stage to launch the projectile package. The smokeless powder charge sends a polyethylene piston at nearly 1000 meters per second down the pump tube, compressing hydrogen gas. The tapered high- pressure coupling section collects the gas until the pressure ruptures a stainless-steel petal-valve, accelerating the launch package down the barrel. In the evacuated expansion chamber a stripper plate separates the launch package by capturing the sabot as the projectile proceeds in free flight to impact the test sample.
Various high-speed cameras are used, some capable of 200 million frames per second, to capture the target impact and debris cloud. Because of the speed of the projectile, measuring the velocity requires the use of laser intervalometers. A high-speed data acquisition system measures the physical conditions of the test environment and samples, including temperature, pressure, and vacuum. We have developed customer-friendly agreements to streamline business relationships and are eager to share our unique facilities and expertise with new customers. We invite your inquiries regarding application or adaptation of our capabilities to satisfy your special requirements.
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Contacts
Marcus Sandy, 575.524.5159, marcus.sandy@nasa.gov
Terence Kelly, 575.524.5425, terence.j.kelly@nasa.gov
Michelle Meerscheidt, 575.524.5382, michelle.l.meerscheidt@nasa.gov