scope:

This standard establishes test methods for determining the capability of ground support equipment (GSE) and other facility hardware to function when exposed to the natural and induced environments peculiar to the prelaunch and launch conditions at KSC. The test methods contained herein specify conditions obtainable in the laboratory that will give test results similar to actual service conditions. This standard provides guidelines for the preparation of detailed test procedures and for the preparation of the environmental test portions of design specifications. This standard provides the environmental test methods that are applicable for qualification of components in accordance with KSC-STD-G-0003.

Applicability. The temperature and rain conditions described are based upon the extreme conditions experienced in the KSC, Florida, area. The accelerated tests (humidity, sand the dust, fungus, and salt fog) were kept in close conformance with MIL-STD-810 to allow the greatest possible standardization of test methods. This was considered possible since these tests are not intended to reproduce actual service conditions but are intended to show the effects of long exposure to these environments.

Design and Testing Considerations.

Severity of Environments. The environmental conditions to which GSE is exposed in the KSC area vary considerably by virtue of its location on the Center. The environmental conditions of computer equipment installed in an air-conditioned, sound-absorbent room on vibration-isolated floors is negligible compared to the severe conditions a holddown system experiences; i.e., the daily natural environments and the blast of the launch vehicle during lift-off. Designing or testing all equipment to the most severe of these conditions is impractical and expensive. The difficulty of designing equipment to meet the design specification is greatly compounded when the specification includes requirements excessive to the actual service environment. This is not meant to imply, of course, that overdesigning or overtesting to ensure that reliability goals are met is not desirable. Rather, design and testing must be accomplished with both the actual environmental and reliability requirements in mind. Consequently, the high-temperature test, temperature shock test, acoustic test, and vibration test require considerable judgment to ensure the proper selection of the specification level and test procedure.

Excluded Tests. - Wind, immersion, and earthquake tests have been excluded from this standard. The definition of a standard test method for these environments is not considered practical or desirable at this time; however, these environments should be considered when applicable to a specific design. Design winds and seismic environments are defined in NASA TM 82473. Generally, KSC facilities and GSE are designed to hurricane wind loads in accordance with KSC-STD-Z-0004. Testing to this environment should not be a normal requirements, but some critical systems, such as service arms, will require specific consideration of wind load tests.

Manufacturing and Engineering Test Locations. - As previously stated, the environmental limitations depicted by this standard are intended for GSE located at KSC. Consideration must also be given to the environmental conditions at the site of equipment manufacture and engineering (system) testing as well as during transportation to KSC. If the acceptance is made at the launch site, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the GSE meet environmental requirements at the manufacturing site, during transport and storage, and at KSC. Environmental conditions for major areas of the United States are given in document TM 82473.

intended Use: