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Artemis 2 Launch, New Amps, Speakers & More

But first, a pop quiz💡


How far will Artemis 2 travel away from earth?

🚀🧑‍🚀✨

Artemis 2 Launch & Return


On April 1, 2026, MSI DFAT was honored to be invited by the Lockheed Martin Orion Program Office to attend the historic Artemis II launch at Kennedy Space Center, joining industry partners along the NASA Causeway to witness the next chapter of human spaceflight firsthand.


Beyond attending the launch, MSI DFAT plays a direct role in the Artemis program by acoustically testing Orion and related spacecraft hardware using Direct Field Acoustic Testing (DFAT), helping ensure the vehicle can survive the extreme launch and ascent environments it will experience on its journey around the Moon.


 Credit: NASA.


One of the key takeaways from witnessing Space Launch System (SLS) take off was just how loud it was - and how well MSI DFAT's Noise Generation System (NGS) can replicate the sound pressure environment. Standing even a few miles from the launchpad sounded and felt exactly like the test runs that we recreated in our noise lab. It's hard to describe a rocket launch experience - it's something you not only hear, but can feel in your chest and your bones.


Estimates place the noise levels at 170-180 decibels (dB) near the launchpad. That’s well beyond the threshold of instant eardrum damage! Even at 1 mile distance, levels reached 136 dB (still dangerously loud), and at 3 miles estimated at 129 dB! The sound waves felt like a deep rolling crackle + thunder, not just a roar. The sound arrived seconds after liftoff, then built up.


 Credit: MSI DFAT.


Fun fact: NASA actually dumps hundreds of thousands of gallons of water onto the pad just to dampen the sound, because otherwise the acoustic energy could literally damage the rocket itself.


Through this work, our team has collaborated closely with program partners and has had the rare opportunity to meet the entire Artemis II astronaut crew in person—connecting the critical ground testing we perform to the people who will ultimately fly the mission. We eagerly anticipate a safe return to earth in the coming days and will call the mission a true success when the crew is back on the ground of our blue marble.


Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Lockheed Martin Executive, Bradley Hope, and Christina Koch. Credit: MSI DFAT.
Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Lockheed Martin Executive, Bradley Hope, and Christina Koch. Credit: MSI DFAT.

It’s a full-circle moment for MSI DFAT: from testing the spacecraft, to supporting mission readiness, to standing on the causeway as Orion lifts off, and anticipating it's soon safe splash-down return. 🚀


New Amps, Speakers & Facility


New week, new warehouse, new amps, new speakers, new customers 😎🙌💯 


Part of our culture at MSI DFAT is continual and incremental innovation. We continue to build upon the latest generations of loudspeakers and amplifiers with new designs and enhanced capabilities. The performance of our purpose-built Noise Generation System (NGS) far exceeds any other loudspeakers available for direct field acoustic testing.


Check out our new MS-25™ loudspeakers and our new Rattler™ amps on display🔊🔊🫨 


MS-25 loudspeakers and Rattler amplifiers in the new MSI DFAT facility. Credit: Max Myers, MSI DFAT.


Fun fact: the Rattler amps were invented by Max Myers with additional collaboration from Logan Avery and Michael "Sully" Sullivan. Max started out as a test technician and has since advanced in the company, to the point of designing our newest amplifier systems!


For more information on MS-25 or Rattler test equipment, please contact info@msidfat.com 


Aviation Week Spotlight on MSI DFAT


Aviation Week talked to MSI DFAT CEO Alex Carrella about the firm’s product innovations and global growth ambitions. Aviation Week is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries, serving 1.2 million professionals around the world, with over 50,000 weekly readers.


As the inventor of direct field acoustic testing, MSI DFAT is the leading provider of rapid and economical direct field acoustic qualification testing equipment and engineering services for the space industry. 


Watch the full interview here


 Credit: Aviation Week.


Space Symposium 2026


MSI DFAT will exhibit at the 41st Space Symposium from April 13-16, 2026. Please join us at booth 415... Stop by and say hi!


Credit: Space Symposium.


A: ✅ ~500,000 miles.


On Artemis II, the crew will travel roughly 494,000 miles (about 800,000 km) from Earth at the farthest point in their trajectory—making it the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.


Artemis 2 crew standing in front of Orion Crew Module surrounded by MSI DFAT acoustic test system. Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch. Credit: NASA/Lockheed Martin.
Artemis 2 crew standing in front of Orion Crew Module surrounded by MSI DFAT acoustic test system. Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch. Credit: NASA/Lockheed Martin.

Launching humans into space? 🚀🛰️🧑‍🚀✨



 
 

Artemis 2 Launch, Blue Moon Lunar Lander DFAT & Our Thoughts on Microphone Placement in DFAN Testing

But first, a pop quiz💡


What ocean will Orion splash down in at the end of the mission?

🚀🛰️✨

From Selling Books to Launching Spacecraft


On the week of January 12, 2026, MSI DFAT conducted a revolutionary Direct Field Acoustic Test (DFAT) of the Blue Origin “Blue Moon” Mark 1 Lunar Lander at the Blue Origin Florida test operations facility in Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA.

 

This test, crucial for verifying the structural integrity and performance of the lunar lander under simulated rocket launch conditions, utilized a state-of-the-art acoustic test system from MSI DFAT.

 

Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, clearly stated the importance of acoustic testing over alternative test methods on X.com: “Because the lander’s vibration environment is driven by acoustic loads, this test replace traditional shaker-based vibration testing and more accurately represents ascent conditions.”


Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, highlights the importance of acoustic testing. Credit: Blue Origin.
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, highlights the importance of acoustic testing. Credit: Blue Origin.

The primary goal of the acoustic test on the MK1 Lunar Lander was to validate its resilience to the high-decibel noise levels experienced during rocket launch.

 

As of 16 January, 2026, the Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander is set to launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, with the first mission scheduled for no earlier than 2026. The lander will carry a NASA payload called SCALPSS (Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies) to the Moon's south polar region.


Blue Moon MK1 Lunar Lander Surrounded by MSI DFAT's Acoustic Test System. Credit: Blue Origin.
Blue Moon MK1 Lunar Lander Surrounded by MSI DFAT's Acoustic Test System. Credit: Blue Origin.

The lander's height of 26 feet (8 meters) makes it larger than NASA's Apollo lander. The lander's design includes a BE-7 engine, cryogenic fluid power, and propulsion systems, and it will be powered by a mix of solar panels and fuel cells. The lander's wet mass is less than 21,350 kg, and it features attitude control in all three axes.


Jeff Bezos (center left) and the Blue Origin team in front of the Blue Moon MK1 Lunar Lander. Credit: Blue Origin.
Jeff Bezos (center left) and the Blue Origin team in front of the Blue Moon MK1 Lunar Lander. Credit: Blue Origin.

The lander's journey to the Moon will take 5-7 days after launch, after which it will burn into lunar orbit. The acoustic qualification test included assessing potential resonant frequencies and ensuring the structural components could withstand the stress without compromising the lunar lander’s functionality. 


The 34-foot-tall acoustic test setup included more than 100 subwoofers and more than 100 mid-high frequency loudspeakers, generating high-intensity noise at over 138 decibels for 120 seconds to meet the proto-qualification requirement for the vehicle! 

Artemis 2 Launching on Feb 6!


MSI DFAT was honored to be invited by the Lockheed Martin Orion Program Office to attend the historic Artemis II launch at Kennedy Space Center, joining industry partners along the NASA Causeway to witness the next chapter of human spaceflight firsthand. The launch is scheduled to occur on February 6, 2026.


How to View the Artemis II Launch:


  • In person (Florida): The closest viewing is the NASA Causeway (by invite-only). Public options include the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (ticketed) and free locations like Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park, all offering clear views of the ascent.

  • From home: NASA will stream the launch live on NASA TV, its website, YouTube, and the NASA app, with coverage starting hours before liftoff and featuring live commentary and onboard views.

  • Helpful tips: Launch dates and times can shift, so follow NASA updates closely; arrive early for in-person viewing due to traffic; and if it’s an evening launch, expect especially dramatic visuals as the rocket lights up the sky.


Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Lockheed Martin Executive, Bradley Hope, and Christina Koch. Credit: MSI DFAT.
Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Lockheed Martin Executive, Bradley Hope, and Christina Koch. Credit: MSI DFAT.

Beyond attending the launch, MSI DFAT plays a direct role in the Artemis program by acoustically testing Orion and related spacecraft hardware using Direct Field Acoustic Testing (DFAT), helping ensure the vehicle can survive the extreme launch and ascent environments it will experience on its journey around the Moon.


Through this work, our team has collaborated closely with program partners and has had the rare opportunity to meet the entire Artemis II astronaut crew in person—connecting the critical ground testing we perform to the people who will ultimately fly the mission.


It’s a full-circle moment for MSI DFAT: from testing the spacecraft, to supporting mission readiness, to standing on the causeway as Orion lifts off. 🚀


The Importance of Microphone Placement in Acoustic Testing


Dr. Marcos Underwood and Wes Mayne of MSI DFAT recently presented a brand new technical publication at SciTech 2025.


The paper demonstrates, through both full-scale DFAT testing at JPL and correlated vibroacoustic simulation, that microphone placement relative to the test article is a dominant factor in achieving valid Direct Field Acoustic (DFAN/DFAT) results. Using a representative spacecraft-like test article, the study shows that microphones placed too close to the article—particularly within the near field or influenced by geometric features such as open cavities—measure localized standing waves, reflections, and resonances that are physically correct but inappropriate for use as control or field-characterization metrics.

Abstract of our newest technical publication. Credit: MSI DFAT.
Abstract of our newest technical publication. Credit: MSI DFAT.

When such microphones are improperly used to define field uniformity or diffuseness, the measured spectra and coherence deviate from the theoretical diffuse-field sinc² behavior, producing misleading indications of poor field quality. The paper makes clear that DFAN approaches which ignore these placement constraints—commonly by positioning microphones arbitrarily close to hardware or embedding them in the near field—are effectively violating the test assumptions defined in NASA-HDBK-7010, resulting in inferior data, distorted control behavior, and incorrect qualification conclusions, whereas properly decoupled microphone layouts, as implemented in MSI-DFAT systems, preserve true diffuse-field metrics and test integrity.


For a copy of the full paper, please request from info@msidfat.com

A: ✅ The Pacific Ocean. Orion, the crew module for NASA’s Artemis missions, is built for true deep-space travel beyond low Earth orbit, carrying up to four astronauts in the roomiest human spacecraft ever flown past Earth’s radiation belts and engineered to withstand intense radiation, micrometeoroids, and long-duration missions to the Moon and beyond. It relies on an international partnership, with the European Service Module providing power, propulsion, oxygen, and water, while the crew module itself is reusable for future flights.


Orion returns to Earth at blistering speeds of about 25,000 mph—faster than any human spacecraft since Apollo—using the largest heat shield ever flown by humans, which intentionally burns away as it endures plasma temperatures around 5,000°F. Instead of plunging straight in, Orion performs a “skip reentry,” bouncing off the atmosphere to reduce heat and g-forces, then deploys an 11-parachute sequence that culminates in three massive main chutes, allowing it to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at roughly 20 mph, slow enough for crew survival even if a parachute fails.


After landing, Orion can right itself if it splashes down upside-down, remains sealed while a U.S. Navy recovery team secures it, and completes one of the most critical and dramatic phases of the Artemis mission—quietly bobbing in the ocean after surviving one of the harshest environments a spacecraft can endure.


Artemis 2 crew standing in front of Orion Crew Module surrounded by MSI DFAT acoustic test system. Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch. Credit: NASA/Lockheed Martin.
Artemis 2 crew standing in front of Orion Crew Module surrounded by MSI DFAT acoustic test system. Left to Right: Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch. Credit: NASA/Lockheed Martin.

Launching things into space? 🚀🛰️✨



 
 

We Just Saw The Space Launch System (SLS)! 🚀🛰️✨

Updated: May 12, 2025

But first, a pop quiz💡


What building has the largest doors on the planet ❔ 🧑‍🚀🌝

We Had a Blast at KSC 🔊 (Literally)


Last week, the team at MSI DFAT had the honor of presenting at the Artemis Orion Crew & Service Module (CSM) handover at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in sunny Florida, just a stone’s throw from Cape Canaveral. The energy was sky-high (pun intended), and we were proud to be surrounded by an incredible community of Artemis program suppliers.


More trivia (...I must be feeling extra generous today): Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo in Greek mythology—hence the name of the newest program bringing us back to the Moon. 😉


We're all-in on supporting NASA and the U.S. mission to return humans to the lunar surface. It's been a while... and we're ready!


Lockheed Martin is aiming high with plans for an annual launch cadence of the SLS and Orion CSM through 2030. At MSI DFAT, we’re helping make that a reality. Our acoustic testing solutions drastically cut downtime—just a few days for full Crew & Service Module testing, with no spacecraft relocation required.


We’re proud to stand with Lockheed Martin and NASA (also, pun intended) to help deliver Rapid Program Delivery—because space doesn’t wait!

MSI DFAT standing with our fellow Artemis program suppliers!


By the way... Check out the enormous size of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA Kennedy Space Center!  👇👇👇

Special thank you to NASA and Lockheed Martin for the hospitality!

MSI DFAT Hits the Stage at NOVEM 2025 🎤🇩🇪


Our very own Alex Carrella chaired a technical session and presented fresh research at NOVEM 2025 (Noise and Vibration Emerging Methods), held May 6–8 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Dr. Alex Carrella chairing a panel session at NOVEM 2025.

This global conference only happens every three years and brings together leaders tackling the cutting edge of:


  • Structural Vibration

  • Vibro-Acoustics

  • Flow-Induced Noise & Vibration

  • Noise and Vibration Control


This year’s agenda delivered some serious brain fuel, with keynotes covering:


  • Psychoacoustic Noise Control of Electric Drives

  • Physics-Guided Machine Learning in Vibroacoustics

  • Vibroacoustics of Space Vehicles 👈 (yep—that’s us!)


Always proud to represent MSI DFAT on the international stage—and even prouder to help shape the future of spacecraft testing!

We're always evolving - from rockstars to rockets!

T-Minus 21 Days to SCLV 🚀


Papers, publications, and PowerPoints... oh my!


We’re gearing up for the Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Dynamic Environments Workshop (SCLV), happening June 3–5 in sunny Los Angeles—and MSI DFAT is showing up big. Dr. Alex Carrella, Wes Mayne, and Alan Merrick will present two cutting-edge research papers in collaboration with our friends at ESI VA One, Rabah Hadjit and Alexis Castel.


Here’s a sneak peek:


📝 MIMO Control for DFAT Testing Equivalence to Reverberant Field Testing

👤 R. Hadjit, W. Mayne III, A. Carrella, A. Castel


Get into the weeds with how DFAT compares to traditional reverberant field testing, using simulation and panel response data to validate field accuracy and guide future modeling strategies.

 

📝 Acoustic Testing on this Shakey Earth

👤 A. Merrick


With over 220 DFAT tests across seismic zones, we’ve learned how to keep towering speaker stacks safe and stable—even in earthquake-prone environments. This session breaks down the structural engineering behind it.


Join us in L.A. as we share our latest work and push the boundaries of spacecraft acoustic testing.


A:  The VAB stands 525 feet tall, 716 feet long, and 518 feet wide. It encloses 129 million cubic feet of space—big enough to fit a Saturn V rocket vertically. The building is so massive, clouds can form near the ceiling on humid days. To prevent this, it’s equipped with one of the world’s largest air conditioning systems. The VAB was originally constructed for assembling Saturn V rockets in the 1960s, and later used for Space Shuttle stacking. It is now being modified to support the Artemis missions with the Space Launch System (SLS).

Launching things into space? 🚀🛰️✨




 
 
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