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Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE)

Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Engineering Test Unit (ETU) Solar Array Deployment
Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Engineering Test Unit (ETU) Solar Array Deployment

Engineering Excellence in Protecting and Moving Spacecraft Systems

The Mechanical Engineering teams bring decades of expertise in spaceflight mission design, assembly, and operation of various Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE), playing a crucial role in satellite development efforts. Engineers specialize in the creation of transporters and containers designed to provide environmentally controlled, shock-resistant environments, ensuring the safe and secure transport of instruments or spacecraft. These transporters are engineered to withstand the challenging conditions of ground, sea, and air transport, guaranteeing the safe delivery of sensitive payloads to their next destination.

Additionally, the team possesses advanced capabilities in the development and implementation of passive gravity offloading systems, such as counterweight, gantry, and pulley fixtures. These non-motorized systems are essential for enabling the in-house development of solar array and deployable systems. The expertise in mechanical design ensures that these solutions meet the rigorous demands of space missions, enhancing the efficiency, safety, and reliability of critical spacecraft handling and deployment processes. These engineering capabilities contribute significantly to the successful transportation and development of advanced satellite technologies.

Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) is managed by ETD’s Mechanical Systems Division (MSD). Contact MSD for more information.