Flight qualification

To flight-qualify is to take a product, process, or material and test it in order to prove that it will withstand the environment of aerodynamic or space flight.[http://www.technet.pnl.gov/sensors/electronics/projects/es4envts.stm PNNL S&E - Electronics Testing for Flight Qualification (32)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908043335/http://www.technet.pnl.gov/sensors/electronics/projects/es4envts.stm |date=September 8, 2008 }} This process can include the following tests and processes:

• parts screening
• thermal test{{cite web |url=http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW153 |title=Qualification of Copper Water Heat Pipes for Space Application - U.S. Naval Research Laboratory |publisher=Nrl.navy.mil |date=2010-02-01 |accessdate=2013-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713164650/http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW153 |archive-date=2007-07-13 |url-status=dead }}
• vacuum test
• vibration test or modal testing
• material analysis

A flight qualification can include a test in the actual desired environment.{{cite web |author=Press Release Source: Starsem Posted Monday, May 21, 2001 |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=4901 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202162412/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=4901 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2013 |title=1658th successful launch of Soyuz. In flight qualification of Soyuz/ST engines | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference |publisher=SpaceRef |date=2001-05-21 |accessdate=2013-07-31 }}