Reliability and efficiency of electrical ground support equipment through automation, modularization, and standardization

Abstract

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has been successfully designing and building spacecraft for decades. APL's success is due in part to a desire to seek further efficiencies and reliability in all aspects of development without compromising the quality of the end product. One area where efficiency and reliability are paramount is the integration and test (l&T) phase of spacecraft development. During this stage, any problem or issue can severely impact the program schedule and cost. A necessary component of the l&T campaign is the electrical ground support equipment (EGSE). Composed of both hardware and software, the EGSE allows the l&T team to test and verify the spacecraft on the ground. As part of the continuing effort to enhance reliability and efficiency, some level of automation has been incorporated into testing involving EGSE. In this paper we will present the current testing and automation methods and associated enabling technologies and provide insight into future EGSE enhancements, including modularization and standardization, that can further increase system reliability and efficiency.