Multi-Axis Hybrid SoftRide System For Large Spacecraft Launch Vibration Isolation

Despite the tremendous successes in developing and transitioning vibration isolation technologies within the launch vehicle arena, it is recognized that further advances in isolation technology are needed to meet the increasingly stringent requirements ofmissile defense systems, particularly space based systems such as SBL or SBIRS. In this phase I effort, CSA Engineering, Inc. will address a new technical challenge: a multi-axis hybrid whole-spacecraft isolation system. The proposed approach will be toleverage CSA's flight proven passive multi-axis isolators with recent achievements in magnetorheological (MR) based hybrid isolation for axial-only systems. The novel MR approach offers the opportunity for a tunable vibration isolation system that offersgreater performance than conventional passive systems. In this Phase I effort, the feasibility of a new axial/lateral hybrid isolation concept for achieving multi-axes isolation for launch vehicles exhibiting high lateral loads is to be investigated.The principal benefit of the proposed research is the reduction of multi-axis vibration loads for spacecraft during launch. This leads to increased on-orbit reliability as well as the development of lower mass systems, since excess structural mass istypically required to withstand launch loads. Specifically, the proposed approach offers superior performance over state-of-the art passive systems through the incorporation of semi-active tunable elements. Commercial applications include automotive orother vehicle suspension systems as well as applications requiring high performance or tunable isolation systems (e.g. semiconductor manufacturing).