Configuration and Design of Mobile Checkout System for Ground Testing of Reusable Launch Vehicle

The winged body reusable launch vehicle needs to be tested and evaluated for its functionality during the pre-flight preparation at the runway. The ground based checkout systems for the avionics and the actuator performance testing during pre-flight evaluation are not designed for rapid movement. This new kind of launch vehicle with solid rocket first-stage and winged body upper-stage demands the system testing at Launchpad and at the runway. The safety protocol forbids the permanent structure for hosting the checkout system near runway. The alternative is to develop a rapidly deployable and removable checkout system. A design methodology adopting conventional industrial instrumentation systems and maintaining mobility is presented. This paper presents the design and development of a mobile checkout system for supporting the ground pre-flight testing during autonomous flight landing trials.