Radiation Resilient SHM Technology for Space Applications

SHM hardware is needed to meet AFSPC needs for resilient bus technologies. All components attached to space systems are required to be securely fastened in order to provide a good thermal conduction path, and ensure they will not become a hazardous projectile during launch. This requirement is enforced through a limited number of periodic manual spot checks on fasteners, and typically a single mechanical (shock and vibration) and environmental (temperature under vacuum) checkout. This however, leaves a lot of opportunity for the system to change unexpectedly and inadvertently during other periods of the life-cycle. There is also no current capability to do this inspection during or post launch. The MD7-Pro system provides a self-contained, comprehensive guided wave inspection capability. This hardware will be able to be used for an automated, remote, on-demand checks for loosened fasteners and thermal gaps anywhere in a space structure, without disassembly, even in inaccessible locations. During the proposed work, MDC will work with MIT to develop a radiation hardened, lighter and more compact version of the MD7-Pro hardware. The effort will first explore individual replacement components, then integrate those components into a demonstration subsystem, and finally perform a full hybrid system demonstration.