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The theoretical background and the numerical modeling results of a ground-based verification activity, of a critical space mission phase affected by adhesion issues are presented. Tribological models are first reviewed with an emphasis on the contact forces assessment and their relationship to the geometrical, material, and mechanical properties of the contacting metal bodies. An approach based on a finite element analysis of the contact, accounting for the adhesion forces, is then proposed for studying the contact behavior off smooth surfaces in vacuum. Some solutions aimed at reducing adhesion pull-off forces are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the role of surface roughness in reducing adhesion. To this purpose, a fractal surface theory is used to estimate interaction forces. The obtained results are applied to discuss the role of adhesion on the release of a test mass trader zero gravity as well as to suggest an appropriate detachment procedure that finds a specific application in a scientific space mission. [DOI: 10.1115/1.2345407]

This paper deals with the problem of measuring the inertia tensor of rigid bodies. An original approach is adopted, different from classical modal analysis techniques. The rigid body is forced by a spatial mechanism to rotate around different axes. Once the mechanism is calibrated, i.e., its inertia and stiffness matrices are known, the inertia tensor of the rigid body may be determined by measuring the frequencies of the small oscillations around the selected axes and then solving a least-squares identification problem. Two prototypes of the spatial mechanism were built. The first was used to perform tests and to measure the inertia tensor of some compressors for domestic refrigeration. The second was constructed to measure the inertia tensor of large mechanical systems.