Ablestar Reliability and Launch Site Testing

A study was made to determine the influence of tests made at the factory, at the launch site and on the launch pad to establish flight readiness and system reliability. Based on data from tests on the Ablestar Stage vehicle, relationships of locational failure incidence as well as functional characteristics are developed. Failure rate levels are shown to be highly dependent on the conditions or stresses at the three different locations. It is also determined that failure rates are increasing with prolonged periods of system test. Conclusions are drawn that field tests should be minimized and only performed for purposes of multi-stage operational integrity.