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Launch Vehicle Test and Operations

  • Achieve a Competitive Advantage in Launch Services

    The space launch services industry is experiencing significant growth—at both established providers and new entrants. This increased innovation and competition are spurred on by new satellite technologies, growing public-private partnerships, and expansion of launch technologies. Innovations like reusable vehicles, groundbreaking rocket engine technologies, and unique launch platforms are forcing engineering teams to move faster and become more efficient than ever to maintain a competitive advantage.

 

NI Provides Solutions from Design to Launch

Whether your team is getting started designing the test stand for your rocket engine, planning launchpad infrastructure with cryogenic fluid management, or testing vehicle components and integration upgrades, NI can help your team achieve launch on an accelerated schedule. We offer software and hardware solutions that connect engineering efforts throughout the vehicle design, validation, integration, and launch phases—saving hundreds of hours and keeping you ahead of the competition.

Related Products and Solutions             

Integration and Manufacturing

A launch vehicle is a complex system of many electromechanical components that must be tested from initial design to final checkout. Perform validation, hardware-in-the-loop, and functional test across the lifecycle or multiple programs.

Electronics Test

 

Test electronics components with specialty test equipment that scales to support evolving technology requirements with comprehensive hardware and software solutions for hardware abstraction, test code development, and automation.

 

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Avionics Communication Test

 

Provides comprehensive coverage of PXI-based digital avionics protocol interfaces for launchpads, launch vehicles, and satellite buses. Includes the flexibility to deploy custom protocols and choose only the pieces required for your application.

 

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Control Systems and HIL Test

 

Validates launch vehicle control system software, empowering teams to create agile test systems that can be scaled and leveraged across the product lifecycle.

 

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Static and Structural Test

 

Provides a reference architecture to streamline the design and deployment of large-channel-count test systems with static measurements from structural to environmental test and more. With FlexLogger, CompactDAQ, and TSN, you can shorten the design cycle from months to days.

 

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Telemetry and Control

 

Enables design, test, and operation of deployed telemetry and control systems on-vehicle and on the ground with a range of RF communications platforms. Choose from software-defined radios ideal for prototyping to calibrated instruments for test.

 

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Rocket Test and Operations

A new launch vehicle platform often starts at the engine and the launch control systems used to operate the engine in both the test stand and at the launchpad.

Rocket Engine Test

 

Provides a modular, reliable, high-performance solution to the challenges presented by a distributed control system. Uses LabVIEW, PXI, CompactRIO, CompactDAQ, and SystemLink™ software to improve the way control systems coordinate across a complex operation like a rocket facility.

 

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Launch Site Operations and Monitoring

 

Provides high-reliability and real-time control and monitoring capabilities through ruggedized form factors suitable for extreme launch operation conditions.

 

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Operations Insights

Aerospace and defense organizations must maintain their competitive advantage. They can improve their processes by time to market, operational efficiency, first pass yield, and overall manufacturing quality.

Operational Intelligence and Product Analytics

 

Combines product performance insights from test operations data with machine and process data to drive product-intelligent actions in real time.

 

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  • CUSTOMER STORIES

    RFA is Revolutionizing Rocket Development

    Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) used results from NI test tools to quickly adapt designs and hardware with agility and flexibility, enabling faster iterations and test loops. Photo Credit: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA).

    CUSTOMER STORIES
  • CUSTOMER STORIES

    NASA Software for Rocket Engine Testing

    NASA Data Acquisition System (NDAS) is a LabVIEW-based software application, which can be adapted to any propulsion test stand or facility DAS despite hardware differences.

    CUSTOMER STORIES
 

We see tremendous opportunities in front of us, both for our company and all the customers we serve. NI plays a key role in helping us realize those opportunities.

Dr. Stefan Tweraser

CEO

Rocket Factory Augsburg

Work with an NI Partner

The NI Partner Network is a global community of domain, application, and test experts working with NI to meet your needs. NI Partners are trusted solution providers, systems integrators, consultants, product developers, and services- and sales-channel experts skilled in a range of industry and application areas.

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An NI Partner is a business entity independent from NI and has no agency or joint-venture relationship and does not form part of any business associations with NI.