Spacecraft Rendezvous Attachment Mechanism Testing Apparatus

This student team sought to develop and produce the initial build of a testing apparatus for space-rated attachments mechanisms purposed for Active Debris Removal (ADR) and On-orbit Service and Manufacture (OSAM) operations. The primary purpose of this system was to quantify the performance of a variety of adhesives and mechanical attachment mechanism designs in thermal vacuum (TVAC) chambers replicating a space-like environment. Specific qualities Turion seeks in this testing apparatus include a variety of surfaces, ability to test adhesion at various approach angles, and measure mechanical forces imposed on the surface in multiple directions as well as the attachment mechanism. The student team worked to rate the system to survive 10^-6 torr and temperature ranges between –40C and + 80C and to be controlled and powered via feedthroughs on standard TVAC chambers. While testing the apparatus design and the initial build were expectations Turion Space has of this student team, Turion also wanted to see the student team work to accomplish testing the apparatus.

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