Ground tests of the “Probe-01”
The ground testing phase of the Probe-01 has just been finished and the device has been qualified for the flight! The expected mission launch date is the second half of March, although, of course this date will depend on such external factors as mainly weather and… consequences of the epidemic of coronavirus…
The probe has undergone a series of tests, of which the most important are:
- power efficiency tests,
- maximum working time in various environmental conditions,
- resistance for freezing,
- the correct operation of scientific devices, including the dosimeter.
The results of individual tests allowed the ongoing improvements, mainly in the fields of power supply, software corrections and sensors work stability. Finally, the tests showed that:
- the device’s operating time in favorable conditions, at room temperature or slightly below, is 11.0 – 12.5 hours, and at the temperature of -25°C it is as much as 10.5 – 11.5 hours, which, taking into account the estimated mission duration time at level of 4-5 hours with reserve for unforeseen situations, is a good enough result,
- all electronic devices, including the on-board computer, work correctly even when their temperature drops into -20°C,
- all the software works correctly, including data acquisition processes and those which are responsible for maintaining reliable operation of all software modules.
One of the key aspects of the device’s operation is its power supply. After the initial struggle with this module, it was finally refined in the way to achieve uninterrupted energy supply, regardless of momentary surges in electricity demand, thus allowing for continuous and uninterrupted operation of the on-board computer and all the sensors.
Another extremely important aspect is a resistance to low temperatures. We devoted much attention to this issue as well. The device spent more than 120 hours in a freezer, during which sensors, the main on-board computer, thermal insulation and temperature distribution gradients inside the probe have been tested.
The photo below shows the probe during one of the tests of operation at low temperatures.
By the way, is WiFi coverage inside your freezers? Fortunately, it is in the one used for testing 😊
Additionally, a number of sensors, including temperature (6 pieces), humidity, atmospheric pressure, accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, a dosimeter has been tested. The device works properly regardless of environmental conditions. The identical sensor is tested independently and so far works seamlessly over 13 million seconds, which translates into almost 5 months of continuous, trouble-free operation.
Summing up the tests … we are currently waiting for the most important test, i.e. the flight, during which on one hand we will perform the planned tests, mainly related to gamma radiation, and on the other we will subject the device to even more extreme conditions than those which we were able to simulate in ground conditions.
More news coming soon…
The above photo shows the probe and a pyrometer mounted on it, which plays role as a solar sensor.