Tests of a mockup of a transformable module for space and planetary stations

During the period of 2012 through 2015, RSC Energia, on its own initiative, within the framework of investment project Development of a Prototype Transformable Habitable Space Module, conducted an independent effort to design transformable modules, as well as to construct and perform ground developmental testing of a scale model of a transformable module. The test program was intended to verify and confirm the chosen design and layout solutions with respect to functioning, pressure integrity, strength of the product, as well as to acquire data about amplitude frequency response of the transformable shell. The paper presents descriptions of the tests that have been conducted, their objectives and achieved results, it describes experimental facilities and procedures for the tests. It draws conclusions based on the results produced by the effort, and outlines ways and options for further developmental testing on the mockup of the transformable module.