Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig
The structural test platform of the lunar environment simulates the intense cold of the lunar night, ranging from 40 Kelvin (K) to 125 k while maintaining a vacuum environment. This creates a tool by which scientists and engineers can test the materials, electronics and flight equipment for future Moon and Mars missions, characterizing their behavior at these temperatures while validating their ability to meet the design requirements.
The structural test platform of the lunar environment (LESTR) approaches the problem of creating a simulated lunar environment by deviating from typical fluid immersion or bedroom systems and the range. It does it using a cryocooler to reject heat and bring the test section to any point desired by the test engineer, as low as 40 k or up to 125 k in a vacuum environment. By combining high temperatures under vacuum and cryogenic, Lestr allows safe, precise and profitable tests of materials and material intended for the moon and beyond. Its modular configuration supports a wide range of components – from space combinations to rover wheels via electronics – while laying the foundations for future technologies of the Moon and Mars mission.
LESTR is a cryogenic mechanical test system built in a conventional load framework in order to provide a tool to simulate the thermal vacuum conditions of the lunar night to engineers responsible for creating materials, tools and machines to succeed in NASA missions.
- Lestr replica of extreme lunar night environments – including temperatures as low as 40 k and a high vacuum (<5 × 10⁻⁷ torr) - allowing real tests with liquid cryogenous space.
- Unlike traditional “wet” methods, LestR uses a cryocooler and a vacuum cleaner system to create a precise environment on the lunar surface.
- From rover wheels to spatial combinations via electronics, LESTR supports static and dynamic tests through a wide range of Moon and Mars mission equipment.
- With evolutionary architecture and precision thermal control, Lestr lays the critical bases to advance the technologies of the artemis missions of NASA and beyond.
Features
- Temperature range: 40 k to 125 k
- Loading capacity: ~ 10 KN
- Vacuum level: <5 × 10⁻⁷ torr
- Test volume (dimensions of the cold box): 7.5 by 9.5 by 11.5 inches
- Maximum cycle rate: 100 Hz
- Vacuum time:
- 10⁻⁵ torr in less than an hour
- 10⁻⁶ torr in four hours
Features
- Dry cryogenic tests (no fluid cryogenic immersion)
- “Dial-A-Temperature” control for precise thermal conditions
- Integrated optical extentometer for deformation imaging
- The correlation of digital image and electrical foods support a variety of data collection methods
- Native support for high -duration cyclical tests
Applications
- Cryogenic life cycle test: fatigue, fracture and sustainability assessments
- Low frequency vibration test: Electronic qualification for mobility systems
- Static load test: characterization of material behavior in lunar environments
- Suspension and transmission test: shock absorbers, wheels, springs and textiles
- Textile test: evaluation of space combinations and housing tissues
- Dynamic load test: up to 10 KN linear capacities, 60 mm race
Cryogenic and mechanical evaluation laboratory manager: Andrew Ring
216-433-9623
Andrew.j.ring@nasa.gov
Lestr Technical Fond: Ariel Dimston
216-433-2893
Ariel.e.dimeston@nasa.gov
The Glenn Research Center of NASA in Cleveland provides ground test installations to industry, government and academic world. If you plan to test in one of our facilities or if you want more information on a specific installation or capacity, please let us know.
