![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ksc-20260924-ph-rcr01-0036.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Rockets vibrate, shake, and flex intensely as they climb into space, and spacecraft packed with delicate scientific instruments must survive those forces. Before any rocket leaves the ground, NASA engineers work to predict how those stresses will affect every part of a spacecraft.<\/p>\n
To do that, engineers in the Dynamic Environments Group with NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program Office at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center<\/a> in Florida have streamlined how they ensure spacecraft and rockets can withstand harsh vibration, shock, stress, or other physical forces, strengthening mission safety in the process.<\/p>\n Using a commercial digital software tool in a new way, the engineers developed a standardized modeling workflow for finite element modeling to strengthen shock and vibration analysis and ensure hardware is prepared for the extreme environments of launch and ascent.<\/p>\n \u201cThis computer-based method helps predict how rockets and spacecraft behave under extreme conditions before hardware is built and helps identify weak spots and potential failure risks early so the team can address the findings,\u201d said Brian Beaver, chief of the Flight Analysis Division with the Launch Services Program Office at NASA Kennedy.<\/p>\n The team recently used the software for the first time while certifying a commercial launch provider\u2019s rocket selected for a NASA mission. The commercial partner provided vibration testing but not shock testing. The Dynamic Environments Group determined shock testing was needed and used a template the group created to run what-if comparisons, visualize structural behavior, and answer complex questions that would have required extensive manual modeling in the past. The team verified the company\u2019s testing results for flight environments, and the analysis provided new insights addressing shock during transport.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are using a tool that\u2019s existed for decades, but it\u2019s not normally used by the dynamic environments disciplines,\u201d said Alex Hardt, aerospace engineer with the Launch Services Program Office at NASA Kennedy. \u201cBut we\u2019re changing that. We\u2019re using it in a relatively new area of dynamics.\u201d<\/p>\n Although rockets and spacecraft are designed to absorb shocks and vibrations, those forces can cause wear and tear or potentially flight failures, especially during launch and ascent.<\/p>\n \u201cWe define how severe the random vibration levels and shock levels are, and then we verify that all the parts going on future rockets have been tested to those levels, maximizing their longevity,\u201d Hardt said.<\/p>\n For decades, engineers have estimated shock and vibration environments using rules of thumb or by scaling previous data to estimate how each rocket component or spacecraft equipment would be impacted once assembled and flown. The approach worked, but relied heavily on engineering judgment and simple approximations drawn from past missions.<\/p>\n Because most dynamic environments engineers use finite element modeling tools infrequently, they often need to re-learn complex workflows. The software replaces older tools and provides a standard template that guides engineers more quickly and thoroughly through vibration profiles and shock conditions.<\/p>\n Finite element analysis is a powerful simulation technique that breaks a complex structure into smaller components so computers can accurately predict how a spacecraft or rocket could respond to specific forces or launch environments. This is important because issues can be addressed on the ground; once the rocket leaves the launch pad, most problems cannot be repaired or corrected, making early identification essential.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve used it to get really valuable insight very quickly into verifying a provider\u2019s system,\u201d Hardt said. \u201cIt\u2019s already provided some really deep insight into something that normally takes a lot of effort.\u201d<\/p>\n Hardt says having the ability to visualize non-intuitive dynamics problems using finite element models also highlights the software\u2019s valuable impact on learning, efficiency, and alignment with NASA\u2019s people focused culture. The workflow can help the engineers share knowledge, refine assessments with additional flight data, and increase proficiency with modeling tools. This capability already has saved months by allowing the team to run analysis independently without having to request and wait for analysis reports or data, and by helping them identify risks that weren\u2019t previously considered.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program Office<\/a> is responsible for launching rockets delivering spacecraft that observe the Earth, visit other planets and explore the universe, from weather satellites to space telescopes to Mars rovers. The team is constantly adopting new tools like this to give the agency the highest practical chance of success for each mission.<\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> Rockets vibrate, shake, and flex intensely as they climb into space, and spacecraft packed with delicate scientific instruments must survive those forces. Before any rocket leaves the ground, NASA engineers work to predict how those stresses will affect every part of a spacecraft. To do that, engineers in the Dynamic Environments Group with NASA\u2019s Launch [\u2026] Continue reading Software time saver<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\nElyna Niles-Carnes <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"