1993 KSC Research and Technology Report

Nondestructive Evaluation


Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology program at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) includes the development of inspection and verification instruments and techniques that can provide information (external or internal) to hardware and component structures in a nonintrusive manner. The technology includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  1. Laser
  2. Infrared
  3. Microwave
  4. Acoustic
  5. Structured light
  6. Other sensing techniques
  7. Computer and software systems needed to support the inspection tools and methods
The present effort in this discipline is being directed toward reducing Shuttle processing costs using these technologies. The long-term effort of the program is to develop cost-effective NDE techniques for inspecting and verifying space vehicles and their components during manufacture and to continue validating those items during assembly/launch and on-orbit or during space flight.

Development of a Nondestructive Vibration Technique for Bond Assessment of Space Shuttle Tiles

Tile Cavity Modeling System

Surface Defect Analyzer

Bolted Joint Nondestructive Evaluation

Fastener Monitoring: An Emerging Technology

Verification Test Article Project

Nondestructive Evaluation of Corrosion Using Infrared Thermography



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