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Testing Rocket Engine Propulsion

The surge in space launches has led to an increase in the need for rocket engine testing. More companies are testing more engines, on a shorter timeline, than ever before. The facilities and systems used to test these engines must meet demanding safety, environmental, and performance requirements to successfully certify engines for space flights. An engineering team building or maintaining a rocket engine test facility must consider:

 

  • Tight coordination among test, support, engine, and facility systems

  • System performance within acceptable tolerances for safety and engine control

  • Flexibility to meet changing needs on the test stand

Rocket Engine Test Architecture

  • CompactDAQ form factors help engineers minimize cabling distance to the rocket engine.

  • Distributed control of CompactRIO provides custom control performance in rugged packaging.

  • Powerful PXI systems provide maximum data processing, avionics emulation, and system control.

  • SystemLink Software monitors test assets and test data to reduce downtime for maintenance and repair. 

  • LabVIEW provides flexibility with the LabVIEW Real-Time Module and LabVIEW FPGA Module to customize every aspect of system control. 

Solution Advantages

  • Improves the performance of subsystems by enforcing system independence, avoiding delays due to slower systems.

  • Simplifies system maintenance by providing loosely coupled subsystems that can be easily updated to integrate new technologies.

  • Enforces a common architecture across control systems to simplify development and lower maintenance costs.

  • Provides flexibility to allow the architecture to grow as the facility grows to support larger numbers of rocket test stands and support systems.

BUILD YOUR SOLUTION WITH THE NI ECOSYSTEM

NI offers a variety of solution integration options customized to your application-specific requirements. You can use your own internal integration teams for full system control or leverage the expertise of NI and our worldwide NI Partner Network to obtain a turnkey solution.

NI Partner Network

The NI Partner Network is a global community of domain, application, and overall test development experts working closely with NI to meet the needs of the engineering community. NI Partners are trusted solution providers, systems integrators, consultants, product developers, and services and sales channel experts skilled across a wide range of industries and application areas.

Services and Support

NI works with customers throughout the life of an application, delivering training, technical support, consultation and integration services, and maintenance programs. Teams can discover new skills by participating in NI-specific and geographic user groups and build proficiency with online and in-person training.

Rocket Engine Test Solution Brochure

Learn more about rocket engine test considerations, steps for implementation, and emerging technologies. Discover how you can optimize your rocket test design through NI hardware, software, and partner ecosystem.

An NI Partner is a business entity independent from NI and has no agency, partnership, or joint-venture relationship with NI.