One of the design challenges on many spacecraft is addressing the structural response to the acoustic loads coming from the launch vehicle rocket motors. Payloads of the launch vehicles, such as satellites, can be greatly affected by these acoustic loads. For many existing launch vehicles these loads have been addressed by tedious hand calculations or by acoustic tests which occur late in the program when design changes are very difficult to implement. As the commercial space program and global communication business demand lower cost launches and higher performance from launch vehicles, the conservatism in this approach is no longer acceptable.

ATA has experience in analyzing the acoustic environment of satellites and launch vehicles and predicting structural response at both the preliminary design and detailed design level of the aerospace vehicle's development.

Techincal Papers

Baker, M., J. Hansen, and F. M. Payne, "Impact of Dynamics on the Design of the RL10-2 Extendible Carbon-Carbon Exit Cone." [folder 394]

Baker, M., P. Blelloch, T. Burton, and F. M. Payne, "Coordinated Use of FEM/BEM and SEA for the Acoustic Response of Delta III RL10B-2 Deployable Nozzle." [folder 393]