Space Craft Manufacturing is a family-owned business that specializes in designing custom trailers to meet the needs of its diverse customer base, such as full-time RVers and weekend travelers, circus and carnival owners, contractors and movie production companies.
These trailers provide customers with plenty of choices, from residential-style conveniences and personalized design options, to quality and durability when on the road.
Design
Designing spacecraft involves an elaborate process involving testing and verification, with designs having to be capable of withstanding harsh environments while offering comfortable accommodations for passengers and crew members.
Spacecraft primary structures have traditionally been assembled on Earth before being integrated with a launch vehicle and sent into orbit, where they must endure various types of stressors like noise, vibration, acceleration and thermal loads.
Spacecraft are often designed to withstand the rigorous nature of spaceflight by hardening them against stressors such as radiation. Unfortunately, this approach puts significant limits on their payload capacities and launch costs.
Fabrication
Spacecraft manufacturing systems must be capable of handling materials and tools under varied conditions, necessitating careful design and engineering to ensure safe operation.
Casting, drawing, forging, machining and rolling techniques may all be used to construct spacecraft components. Electron beam welding has long been established on Earth and could become the best solution in space applications.
Laser forming is another technology that may be utilized in space manufacturing, having proven its efficacy in producing large complex structures efficiently and rapidly deploying and testing spacecraft structures. Benefits of using this manufacturing technique include lower production costs and increased durability; additionally, you may combine laser forming with other manufacturing processes like assembly and testing for additional flexibility.
Assembly
Before a satellite can be launched, its major structural, electrical and propulsion components must be assembled, connected electrically and tested as an integrated system – this process is known as Integration and Test (I&T).
Spacecraft electrical power subsystems include solar arrays, batteries and electronic units that generate, store, process and distribute energy for use by satellite electronics. Each of these subsystems must be assembled, verified and tested before being delivered to I&T team for final delivery.
Assembly and manufacturing in space will revolutionize how we design spacecraft, refuel them in orbit, extend their lifespans and build large structures in space. Furthermore, this method will free us from Earth-bound supply chain logistics while revolutionizing sustainable space exploration.
Testing
Once a spacecraft is ready to enter space, its mechanical and electronic components must be subjected to exhaustive tests in order to ensure their proper function. Depending on its design, this may involve vibration, shock or acoustic testing in order to simulate launch conditions.
Testing radiation and electromagnetic interference from solar arrays, antennas and other devices installed on satellites is also vitally important to ensure their safe and efficient operation in space.
As a spacecraft test specialist, your role will be to assist satellites from component delivery through to launch with all stages of integration and testing – from component inspection to launch. This means working closely with customers, design engineers and system engineers to determine which tests are necessary and writing corresponding procedures accordingly.
Installation
Installing spacecraft components is the final stage in its manufacturing process, with boxes and units assembled, tested, and assembled by either outside vendors or the spacecraft contractor’s company – usually under the guidance of their designated engineer – before being deployed into space for testing purposes. Weber says thermal vacuum testing may also be conducted to ensure proper deployment onto orbit.
Integration and test teams also install electronics and power subsystems on satellites, as well as radiators to control thermal distribution across its different zones.
Although many of the metal handling techniques employed on Earth can be applied in microgravity, some will need to be altered slightly for use. For instance, water that would normally be used to quench steel won’t be available and might need an alternate form of treatment instead.