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Verification of International Space Station Component Leak Rates by Helium Accumulation MethodDiscovery of leakage on several International Space Station U.S. Laboratory Module ammonia system quick disconnects (QDs) led to the need for a process to quantify total leakage without removing the QDs from the system. An innovative solution was proposed allowing quantitative leak rate measurement at ambient external pressure without QD removal. The method utilizes a helium mass spectrometer configured in the detector probe mode to determine helium leak rates inside a containment hood installed on the test component. The method was validated through extensive developmental testing. Test results showed the method was viable, accurate and repeatable for a wide range of leak rates. The accumulation method has been accepted by NASA and is currently being used by Boeing Huntsville, Boeing Kennedy Space Center and Boeing Johnson Space Center to test welds and valves and will be used by Alenia to test the Cupola. The method has been used in place of more expensive vacuum chamber testing which requires removing the test component from the system.
Document ID
20030106776
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Underwood, Steve D. (Boeing Co. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Smith, Sherry L. (Boeing Co. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: 40th Space Congress 2003 International Space Station Advances, Mission Milestones, Mission Operations
Location: Cape Canaveral, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: April 29, 2003
End Date: May 1, 2003
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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