NASA | Glory: The Rough Road to Space

The video discusses the challenges faced by spacecraft, particularly the Glory mission, in low earth polar orbits. It highlights the extreme thermal cycling experienced by spacecraft and the rigorous testing procedures conducted on the ground to simulate space conditions. These tests include vibration and thermal testing at both component and instrument levels, as well as environmental tests in vacuum chambers. The importance of pre-launch testing is emphasized to prevent mission failure, as any issues during launch cannot be rectified once the spacecraft is in space.

What type of orbit does the Glory mission utilize?

• Geostationary orbit

• Low earth polar orbit

• Elliptical orbit

• High earth orbit

What is one of the main challenges faced by spacecraft in a sun synchronous orbit?

• Cycling through extreme temperature changes

• Avoiding collisions with other satellites

• Maintaining a constant speed

• Communicating with ground stations

Why is it important to simulate space conditions on Earth for spacecraft?

• To improve communication with the spacecraft

• To reduce the cost of the mission

• To ensure the spacecraft can withstand space conditions

• To save time during the launch

What is the purpose of vibration tests on spacecraft?

• To ensure the spacecraft can handle launch stresses

• To test the spacecraft's communication systems

• To check the spacecraft's weight

• To measure the spacecraft's speed

What is a potential consequence of not conducting thorough pre-launch testing?

• The spacecraft could fail in space with no chance of repair

• The mission could be delayed

• The spacecraft might use more fuel

• The spacecraft might not reach orbit