Roid Rage Shake the Crap Out of It (It's a Technical Term)
Jan 15, 2026
Join Jack, Ashton, and Holly as they dive into the chaos of vibration testing for spacecraft. Discover how they use vibration data to refine simulations and avoid QA disasters like those from Astra Rocket 3. They explore the quirky world of space law, testing logistics, and the surprising results of solar panel tests. Ashton recounts tales of a shake table gone wild while discussing the importance of load paths. Plus, find out what surprised them about test outcomes and their plans for redesigns and future tests!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Launch Providers' Main Concern
- Launch providers primarily care that payloads won't break the rocket or cause catastrophic failures.
- Post-separation performance (like solar deployment) is the payload team's responsibility, not the launch provider's.
Solar Array Breakout Test Sparks Fixes
- The standalone solar-array breakout test showed panels slapping and risking cell damage in areas without mounted cells.
- The team added rubber bumpers and verified hinge deployment to preserve electrical continuity and prevent cell impacts.
Accels Changed The Test Outcome
- The team placed many three-axis accelerometers to capture mode shapes and responses across the spacecraft.
- One accelerometer on the front closeout detached and its removal immediately shifted all measured modal frequencies to the expected values.