Capabilities

Testing and Validation

Capabilities

Testing and Validation

Testing is crucial to the development and qualification of the systems designed by Vorticity.
Partnering with organisations including NASA, ESA, and Thales-Alenia Space, Vorticity has more than 20 years' experience of designing and delivering tests in Europe, the US, and Canada.
Testing is crucial to the development and qualification of the systems designed by Vorticity.
Partnering with organisations including NASA, ESA, and Thales-Alenia Space, Vorticity has more than 20 years' experience of designing and delivering tests in Europe, the US, and Canada.

// KEY CAPABILITIES

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Wind tunnel testing

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High and low altitude drop testing

Helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, octocopter, high-altitude balloon, sonde balloon

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Functional testing of mechanisms and pyrotechnics

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Electrical testing

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Materials stress testing

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Environmental testing

Custom environmental test chamber for low temperature and pressure testing

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Cleanroom facility for manufacturing and testing

ISO Class 8 certified cleanroom facility on-site

// KEY CASE STUDY - EXOMARS PARACHUTE EXTRACTION TEST, NASA JPL

// CASE STUDY

Parachute Dynamic Extraction Test for ExoMars

FULL CASE STUDY

Vorticity has designed, built, and operated testing systems for a range of missions. Vorticity led the Dynamic Extraction Testing campaign at JPL for the ExoMars mission, shown in these videos. In partnership with ESA, Vorticity is developing a European Extraction Rig which works at even higher speeds, and can carry larger masses.

Vorticity has designed, built, and operated bespoke testing systems when the mission requires. Vorticity led the Dynamic Extraction Testing campaign at JPL for the ExoMars mission, shown in the video below the case card. In partnership with ESA, Vorticity is currently working on a European Extraction Rig which works at even higher speeds, and can carry larger masses. Learn more below:

// KEY CASE STUDY - EXOMARS HIGH ALTITUDE DROP TEST

Vorticity delivered another successful high-altitude drop test (nHADT) in Kiruna, Sweden, as part of the ESA ExoMars mission, in July 2025.

// CASE STUDY

Full Sequence High-Altitude Drop Test - ExoMars

// CASE STUDY

Full Sequence High-Altitude Drop Test - ExoMars

FULL CASE STUDY

// KEY CASE STUDY - SUPERMAX

The image below shows the launch of the MAXUS 9 sounding rocket from SSC, carrying the SuperMax entry vehicle designed by Vorticity, to conduct supersonic subscale parachute testing for ESA.

// CASE STUDY

Supersonic Parachute Test - SuperMax

// CASE STUDY

Supersonic Parachute Test - SuperMax

FULL CASE STUDY

// KEY CASE STUDY - EXOMARS WIND TUNNEL TESTING

Vorticity has long-standing experience of testing parachutes in wind tunnels. The team tested the ExoMars ringslot parachute, the second stage design, at the NRC-CNRC (Conseil National de Recherces du Canada) 9m x 9m subsonic wind tunnel.

For the ESA Supersonic Parachute Research project, the Vorticity team designed and tested parachutes in the NRC-CNRC 1.5 m x 1.5 m supersonic wind tunnel between Mach 1.6 and Mach 2.1.

Vorticity has also conducted testing at the NASA Glenn 10ft x 10ft Supersonic wind tunnel and the NASA Ames National Full-Scale Complex (NFAC), as pictured below.

// CASE STUDY

Parachutes for ExoMars 2016

// CASE STUDY

Parachutes for ExoMars 2016

FULL CASE STUDY

// MORE CASE STUDIES