Modal Identification Tests of the ROSETTA Lander (Demonstration Model)

Abstract

The ROSETTA Lander is a small spacecraft designed for landing on the comet Wirtanen. The ROSETTA mission will be launched in the year 2003 by Ariane 5. The Rosetta spacecraft will rendezvous with the lander and will orbit the comet in the spring of 2012. The Demonstration model (DM) of the ROSETTA Lander Structure was built by the Structure Team at DLR Braunschweig. To identify the modes and to verify the mathematical model of the Demonstration Model, model identification tests are to be performed by base excitation. The published report summarizes the test methods and the essential results of the modal identification test on the Multi-Axis Vibration Simulator MAVIS.