Sierra Space completes acoustic testing for Shooting Star cargo module at KSC

Sierra Space completes acoustic testing for Shooting Star cargo module at KSC
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 05, 2024

Sierra Space, a prominent player in the commercial space sector and defense technology, has announced the successful completion of acoustic testing for its Shooting Star cargo module at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This achievement marks an important milestone as the spacecraft nears launch readiness. The testing, conducted within the Space Systems Processing Facility (SSPF) for the first time, simulated the extreme acoustic conditions the module will encounter during its launch aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Direct Field Acoustic Test (DFAN) involved positioning specialized loudspeakers in 21-foot-tall columns around the spacecraft. These devices were engineered to replicate the intense acoustic environment of a Vulcan Centaur rocket launch. Over four days, engineers subjected the module to a controlled sound field, producing a sonic intensity 10,000 times greater than that of a typical rock concert. The Shooting Star module endured acoustic levels exceeding 140 dB for several minutes, demonstrating its structural integrity and flight readiness.

"Our innovative Shooting Star cargo module offers the capability to deliver additional capacity, flexibility and power to a wide range of missions," said Sierra Space CEO, Tom Vice. "In our first mission, Shooting Star will carry critical science, food, and cargo to the International Space Station for NASA, and our cargo modules will continue to play an integral role in bringing supplies to space as we build a Low Earth Orbit economy through commercial spaceflight."

The Shooting Star module, designed to attach to the aft of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spacecraft, adds 7,000 lbs. of cargo capacity. Equipped with solar arrays and thrusters, it provides additional power and propulsion. The acoustic testing was facilitated by a mobile setup from West Virginia-based Acoustic Research Systems, Inc. (ARS), marking the first instance of onsite acoustic testing within NASA's SSPF.

"Our goal is to accurately simulate real-world launch conditions to make sure Sierra Space's Shooting Star cargo module is ready for its first mission to the International Space Station," said ARS CEO, Jeremiah Leiter. "The ARS team rose to the challenge, setting up a mobile configuration onsite at Kennedy Space Center - for the first time ever inside the Space Systems Processing Facility - providing Sierra Space with critical acoustic qualification testing. We look forward to supporting Sierra Space with the upcoming Dream Chaser acoustic test."

ARS utilized 48 acoustic devices during the testing process, employing its proprietary Neutron System, which is specifically designed for high-output aerospace acoustic testing. The system will also be used for the upcoming Dream Chaser spaceplane test, which will involve the largest payload ever tested with DFAN.