"Using Helium to Predict the Mass Properties of an Object in the Vacuum of Space"

By

Boynton, R., Bell, R., and Wiener, K. (1991)
50th Annual Conference of the Society of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc.
San Diego, CA, 20-23 May 1991.

Abstract:

How can the mass properties of objects designed to operate in space best be measured in an earth based lab? Mass properties measurements of lightweight objects designed to operate in the vacuum of outer space have traditionally been made in a vacuum chamber, in order to eliminate the errors due to the mass of the air surrounding the object. Vacuum chambers are expensive and inconvenient to use. The novel method described in this paper eliminates the effect of the air mass without requiring a vacuum chamber. This method works for any shape object.

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