Advancement of Nondestructive Evaluation in Space: Vision and Experimental Payload Design

As in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities continue to evolve, ensuring the structural integrity of these orbital components and assemblies remains of critical importance. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods, particularly those employing fully non-contact methods, are anticipated to be crucial for space applications. Laser ultrasonics offers a promising non-contact solution for in-situ inspection of bonded joints, commonly used in satellite structures. These joints are exposed to continuous thermal cycling, radiation exposure, and other stresses which may critically alter the structural health of such bonds. In this study, guided wave-based ultrasonics is the main diagnostic method. A proposed 18U payload integrates a laser-ultrasonic system with a combined passive and active, infrared (IR) thermography system. Passive thermography utilizes solar thermal load as a heat source, while active thermography is achieved via on-demand flash-lamp heating. To validate feasibility and system performance, preliminary ground-based experiments are underway, initially targeting the detection of artificially induced defects in adhesive layers using guided waves and thermal imaging. The integrated NDE payload represents a foundational step toward robust autonomous inspection capabilities in support of ISAM operations.