NASA speeds up pre-launch shock and vibration checks
Engineers at Kennedy Space Center are using familiar software in a new way to identify risks to rockets and spacecraft before launch.
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NASA engineers have standardized computer modelling of the shocks and vibrations experienced by rockets and spacecraft. The agency announced the work at Kennedy Space Center on 19 October.
The team uses existing commercial finite element analysis software. This divides a complex structure into smaller parts to calculate how it responds to loads. The innovation is the engineers' workflow and template, not the invention of the method itself.
The approach has already been used to certify a commercial provider's rocket for a NASA mission. According to the agency, the analysis helped identify the need for shock testing and assess transportation risks.
NASA says performing these analyses in-house saved months of waiting for external reports. This is the agency's assessment of its engineering process, not the finding of a separate independent comparative study.
Source: NASA, 19 October 2026
Photo: NASA/Clayton Rougelot, provided for informational use under NASA’s media guidelines. Engineer Stirling Allen displays a computer model at Kennedy Space Center. Cropped to 1200×675 px.
