High-Speed Test Machine

ASU technicians and lab managers have finally made the high-speed test machine fully functional after being out of use for nearly a decade. The machine was missing several key components that needed to be replaced. The machine is now safely able to test various samples by rapidly applying stress loads to them, simulating stress the sample would experience at high speeds due to air resistance. In particular, Dr. Mobasher and his team are now able to fully test nylon samples provided by NASA to collect and analyze how the samples react to rapidly applied stresses. The nylon must be able to withstand the stresses an object would undergo at speeds of Mach 2 or lower after the supersonic inflatable decelerators are finished slowing the payload. 

My next post will pertain to preparing nylon samples and further tests that will be run. 

Thanks for reading,

Nick Thompson