Tyler Creates

Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers

(ESCAPADE)

Program

  • NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission utilizes two identical spacecrafts, Blue and Gold, designed and built by Rocket Lab to study the magnetic environment on Mars.

Experience from 2023-2024

  • Led efforts to resolve a critical solar array deployment issue on the qualification unit through comprehensive mechanical testing and analysis correlation.
  • Diagnosed the root cause of the deployment issue as structural failure in the damper hinge. Completed a quick hand calculation into a redesigned component breakout analysis within one day to expedite the replacement part BOM.
  • Performed a solar array deployment analysis using Simcenter 3D Motion to optimize Z-fold deployment by adjusting the damper rate based on an assumed spring constant and design mass. Correlated the analysis to the qualification test unit to show a near identical deployment.
  • Successfully mitigated schedule delays by implementing quick-hand calcs and analysis driving timely solutions.

Achievements

  • Quickly adapted to a new software and tackled an unfamiliar problem, delivering a solution under tight deadlines to prevent schedule delays.
ESCAPADE vehicle-level qualification testing at Rocket Lab HQ (I’m in the back!).
Twin flight satellites assembly in-progress in cleanroom.

Photos sourced from Rocket Lab