Human Factor Acoustics

LaFontaine Engineering provides end-to-end human-factor acoustics expertise, supporting crewed spacecraft and habitat programs from early design through verification and certification. Our capabilities span component-level noise source characterization, noise attenuation and transmission-loss analysis, and rigorous verification of compliance with NASA safety, health, performance, and crew-comfort acoustic requirements, enabling mission readiness and risk reduction.

 

Spacecraft Internal Acoustic Noise Test Development

We support the development and execution of internal acoustic noise tests tailored to representative vehicle operational states, including:

• Design of automated test sequences across multiple vehicle modes and mission phases

• Microphone type selection based on frequency content, dynamic range, and environmental constraints

• Microphone placement planning to capture spatial variability and crew exposure levels

• Definition of data-acquisition architectures, sampling rates, and signal conditioning

 

Sub-Scale Component Testing and Data Collection

We conduct and interpret sub-scale acoustic testing to inform full-vehicle predictions and design trades, including:

• Benchtop acoustic characterization of components and subsystems

• Impedance tube testing for material absorption, reflection, and transmission-loss properties

 

Data Processing and Analysis Capabilities

LaFontaine Engineering develops and applies custom data-processing workflows to support acoustic verification and reporting, including:

• Acoustic weighting filters (A-, B-, and C-weighting)

• Full-octave and one-third-octave band analysis

• Overall sound pressure level (OASPL)

• Time-weighted sound levels (Fast and Slow)

• Equivalent continuous sound level (Leq)

• Peak sound pressure level

• Narrowband and tonal FFT analysis

• Reverberation time estimation