NASA’s Mission to Study Sunlight Completes Vacuum, Vibration Testing
Bright white lights reflect off the metallic hardware of a satellite poised for inspection. Engineers outfitted with bunny suits traverse the clean room, past machinery and test chambers. In the middle of the clean room is the spacecraft for NASA’s upcoming sunlight-measuring mission, TSIS-2 (Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2). This fall, the satellite took […] The post NASA’s Mission…
The Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) satellite successfully completed vacuum, vibration, and temperature testing, bringing it closer to its planned launch in early 2027. Installed for testing was the spacecraft in a clean room, surrounded by machinery and chambers. Scientists tested the satellite under conditions it will face during low Earth orbit, including temperatures well below freezing and a vacuum environment.
These conditions can affect the hardware and instruments on the satellite. The tests confirmed that TSIS-2's components would function as designed despite these challenging conditions. Additionally, the satellite was tested for mass distribution and vibration to ensure it could withstand the launch process. The observatory carries two instruments, the Total Irradiance Monitor and the Spectral Irradiance Monitor, which measure the intensity of sunlight reaching Earth's atmosphere.
This data will help scientists understand the impact of solar energy changes on Earth's climate. With these tests completed, TSIS-2 will be prepared for transport to the launch site and integration with the rocket.
Written by urgent.news from NASA Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
