How NASA engineers simulate the extreme violence of a rocket launch
Before Europa Clipper begins its 1.6-billion-mile journey to Jupiter, it must survive a gauntlet of Earth-bound trials. This video takes you inside the JPL Space Simulator to see how engineers replicate the intense shaking, temperature swings, and vacuum of space.
The video features planetary scientist Elodie Lespect and engineer Annie Marinan guiding viewers through the thermal vacuum testing process at NASA JPL. To prepare for the mission to Jupiter's icy moon, the spacecraft was subjected to a 16-day environmental test designed to find any remaining flaws.
Engineers used the 85-foot-tall thermal vacuum chamber to mimic the airless environment of space and the extreme heat of solar radiation. The process involved using powerful lamps and mirrors to simulate sun exposure, followed by liquid nitrogen to replicate the chilling temperatures of deep space. The testing also included vibration, shock, and acoustic trials to ensure the spacecraft could withstand the intense noise and physical jolts of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch.
Source: Inside the JPL Space Simulator with Europa Clipper
