Europa Clipper MAGGIE Shock Failure and Resulting Shock Mitigation Design Trade Study

The MAGnetometer Giant Integrated Element (MAGGIE) is part of the Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM**) payload. MAGGIE is a coiled boom assembly that supports three Fluxgate Sensor Assemblies (FGSA) on three carbon fiber rings. MAGGIE is located on the Europa Clipper Propulsion Module, near the Spacecraft separation plane. In January 2022, the Dynamic Test Model (DTM) of the stowed MAGGIE Boom underwent simulated pyroshock testing and experienced a failure in the boom restraint mechanism. Measured shock levels at the three FGSA interfaces were much higher than expected and significantly exceeded the heritage FGSA shock capability. A second shock test campaign was performed with the stowed MAGGIE Boom DTM and FGSA mass models in order to identify the reason for the unexpected results from the original test program. The data from these tests were used to develop and implement design changes to increase attenuation that did not significantly perturb the overall design and architecture of the MAGGIE Boom and not impact the FGSA design in anyway. These design changes included: modifying the restraint mechanism design, increasing the boom restraint mechanism preload, increasing or decreasing preload between the carbon fiber FGSA supports, and introducing acoustic impedance shims at interfaces that were originally metal-on-metal. A third shock test campaign was performed using the modified MAGGIE DTM in order to assess the effectiveness of the different design solutions and select the best path forward for both ECM shock survival and reduction of the FGSA shock levels to within capability. (**ECM also includes an Electronics Unit housed far from the Spacecraft separation plane in the Europa Clipper Avionics Vault and was therefore not included in this test campaign.)