Assembly, integration, test and calibration

Embedded within our project teams, our AIT technicians plan and implement the AIT of any project lifecycle. They are responsible for the physical realisation of engineering designs and work on all projects, working in close collaboration with systems, mechanical, thermal, optical and electronics engineers to ensuring integration approaches reflect design. 

Key activities and experience 

• Assembly and integration of instruments, subsystems, payloads and complex hardware 

• Development and use of bespoke mechanical, electrical and optical ground support equipment (MGSE/EGSE/OGSE) 

• Defined procedures, documentation and configuration control 

• Early functional testing and integration risk management 

For turning designs in to real optical instruments, we work in the development cycle of:

• Specification of optics parts and sub-assemblies
• Tendering and procurement of parts from optics-industry and/or collaborators
• Assembly and alignment of these during instrument build
• Optical testing of the final instruments including:
  • Optical-quality testing of the manufacture and build processes,
  • Optical performance-testing of the full system. This is more challenging as typically includes the science-related functions of the instrument such as image-quality and signal sensitivity, and it typically involves testing within the full vacuum and thermal environments, to prove acceptance for flight
  • Bespoke optical ground-test equipment, which we also have to develop alongside the instrument itself. Examples are telescope-simulator and calibration optics, such as solar-simulators and other test sources

A highly experienced team which operate all our in-house dynamics capabilities, backed by specialist scientific and engineering expertise. The team supports customers to understand the dynamic behaviour of satellites in response to a wide range of stimuli to replicate its complete journey to orbit. Digital models that predict behaviour can be validated with physical testing under a range of conditions enabling complete characterisation of its dynamic behaviour. 

Key activities and experience 

• Vibration, shock and mass properties testing 

• Execution of qualification and acceptance test campaigns 

• Use of purpose‑designed MGSE for dynamics testing 

• Result interpretation in the context of design requirements 

Our dedicated team of thermal vacuum engineers are experienced in the delivery of test campaigns that simulate the space environment, verifying thermal performance, stability and operational behaviour. The team supports external users to utilise the facilities as well as running full campaigns for project delivery. 

Thermal test campaigns are planned and interpreted in close collaboration with thermal engineers, often requiring bespoke thermal test rigs and support equipment to enable meaningful correlation between analytical models and hardware performance. 

Key activities and experience 

• Thermal vacuum and thermal balance test planning and execution 

• Verification of thermal performance and stability under representative conditions 

• Development and use of bespoke thermal test rigs and support equipment 

• Support for qualification, acceptance and investigative test campaigns 

• Materials and contamination campaigns, including outgassing assessment and control 

The Electromagnetics suite is operated, maintained and developed by a team of test engineers with a range of experience covering EMC testing, near-field antenna measurements and working with space hardware.

The team are supported by quality management practices to ensure that equipment is calibrated, processes are followed, and the quality of measurements and results are maintained. 

Run by a team of operational technicians and calibration researchers, our calibration facilities establish instrument performance and confidence in scientific and operational data products. Activities are delivered in collaboration with optical engineers, instrument scientists and programme teams, supporting both stand‑alone calibration campaigns and programme‑level validation approaches. 

Our dedicated optical systems and calibration validation programme researchers and develops this capability. 

Key activities and experience 

• Instrument calibration and performance characterisation 

• Development and execution of pre‑launch calibration campaigns 

• Design and use of calibration‑specific ground support equipment and rigs 

• Validation planning supporting long‑term data quality