How satellites are engineered and tested – Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences

This article is part of a new series on Eurofins’ testing services.

With several thousands of satellites in orbit at any given moment, have you ever wondered how they are engineered and tested?

A satellite is an object in space that circles around a larger object. Satellites can collect a wealth of data and facilitate the Earth’s communication systems. Many send television, radio and GPS signals to Earth, provide information on weather and climate forecasting, and help scientists to study space.

Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences plays a vital role in testing the materials that are used in components of satellites to measure performance, durability and reliability, even in harsh environments.

Eurofins laboratories also support the development of new, advanced materials that are lighter, stronger, and more efficient. And if something isn’t right during the testing phase, Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences investigates the root cause of the failure, with the aim of ensuring that satellites stay in orbit once they take flight!

Learn more about how Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences supports the development of satellites in this article.

?Materials characterisation

Solar cells within solar panels help to transform sunlight into electrical power for the operation of satellites, making them one of the most essential parts of satellites. In the presence of sunlight, the electric power generated by solar panels charges the batteries onboard a satellite.

Different parts of solar cells are designed to absorb certain wavelengths of light, and need a specific concentration of substances to do so. Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences measures the composition of solar cells, using materials characterisation techniques such as surface analysis and depth profiling.

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Purity certification

Even ultra-low levels of contaminants can influence the physical and electrical characteristics of materials, and contaminants can be introduced at many stages of the manufacturing process. To avoid this, Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences companies certify the purity of metal powders used via trace elemental analysis.

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Wear and tear testing

Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences performs metallurgical analysis on solar cells to investigate the risk of fractures, cracks, or other wear and tear while in space.

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Destructive testing

Destructive testing is used to analyse the quality of parts used in satellites and determine the point at which a component or material could fail. Inspectors from Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences companies subject the components and materials they are testing to various destructive methods to gain insights about how they will perform under pressure and how they could be damaged or destroyed.

This testing method helps satellite designers to understand whether electronic components and materials will fulfil their purpose while in space, and solve any likely problems before they occur.?

Want to learn more about Eurofins Materials and Engineering Sciences?

Check out Chapter 3 in our new book, The Story of Eurofins – From humble beginnings to a global leader.