NASA Using MadgeTech Data Loggers at the Kennedy Space Center
In late 2012, seventeen RHTemp101A MadgeTech data loggers were strategically set up around NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) located in the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a goal of creating an accurate overview of the internal environment.
As the organization planned to alter the building to house a Space Launch System, as well as Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicles and commercial business, collecting precise data was extremely important. In order to properly execute the facility modifications, NASA first needed to create a 3-D volume characterization of the building with a focus on temperature and humidity to assure that the Space Launch System would be plausible.
The loggers were set up to take readings every ten minutes continuously for one year to show any temperate differentials that could impact the launch of the spacecraft. Surrounding the VAB are three wind towers that supplied NASA with temperature readings. By comparing the wind tower readings with those from the RHTemp101A data loggers, the team was able to determine what, if any, temperature differentials occurred between the outside environment compared to the inside the VAB.
After the yearlong study concluded, the data proved that the VAB was acting as a thermal filter which caused the external atmosphere to have reduced thermal oscillation. NASA also noticed that the closer the loggers were to ground level, the more temperature differentials there were. They surmised this was caused by the constant opening and closing of doors which causes increased airflow.
Now that NASA has created the 3-D volume characterization, they can move onto the next steps in the alteration process. They expect the Space Launch System to be completed by 2017.
For more information about MadgeTech data loggers and applications, visit www.madgetech.com or call 603-456-2011 and speak to a specialist today.
