Calibration stand for a multi-thruster cluster

Small liquid propellant rocket engines are often being used by spacecraft vehicles for altitude control, trajectory corrections, or other maneuvers. These engines are designed for specific tasks, and are usually aligned as a multiple nozzle system (cluster), where different nozzles supply the jets in different directions. A simple calibration of each nozzle individually does not suffice for a complete evaluation of the cluster´s performance envelope. The complexity of the calibration, especially for the low thrust motor located on a heavy system, is discussed. A calibration rig designed to handle these difficulties is presented, along with calibration results provided by dead weight loading. These results confirm the adequacy of the test rig to perform the desired calibration