SPACE SIMULATION TESTING
Introduction: The Space Simulation Testing facilities are operated and monitored 24-hours per day. Test setups and teardowns are performed during normal working hours unless other arrangements are made in advance. The Space Simulation Test Engineering Group Lead and Test Engineers provide customers with cost estimates, chamber availability, and technical support. A Thermal Vacuum Orientation Package is also available to help customers understand documentation, operation, safety, schedule, and technical requirements. The test volume measurements provided are nominal dimensions of the thermal shroud for chambers that have a shroud. Pumping speeds provided are the manufacturer's states speeds at the pump opening.
Highlights include:
-
Perform thermal vacuum, thermal balance, and bake-out tests in chambers that range from 3' diameter x 4' length to 27' diameter x 40' height
-
Simulate on-orbit space environments down to vacuum pressures of <1 x 10^-5 Torr and temperatures in the GN2 (-140C to +150C or -220F to +302F) and LN2 (-190C or -310F) range
-
Achieve required thermal control zones using thermal conditioning units, cryo-panels, coldplates, and heater control racks
-
Monitor contamination and outgassing rates with chamber cold-finger and thermoelectric quartz crystal microbalance (TQCM)
Click on any facility photo below for more detailed information/specifications
Facility 225 (click for details)
Facility 225: 9' X 14' Thermal Vacuum Chamber
Description: This is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum test chamber used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and backing out large test items. Electrical freedthroughs and liquid and gas penetrations are provided at locations on the sides and rear of the chamber. A clean tent covering the door opening provides a Class 10,000 clean area for integrating hardware prior to loading it into the chamber.
Mode of Operation: Test items are loaded by crane onto a load cart, which is rolled into the chamber on a rail system. Payload weight can be as high as 2,269 kg (5,000 lb). Access to the chamber is through a clean tent. The use of cleanroom procedures and the wearing of clean garments are required when working in the chamber.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 225 specifications)
Facility 232 (click for details)
Facility 232: 4' X 4' Temperature/Humidity Chamber
Description: This facility is a medium-sized chamber used for thermal and humidity cycling of medium-sized test items. A full-opening, hunged front door with a window allows for access and viewing.
Mode of Operation: The test item is installed in the chamber and connected to an external power source and data acquisition equipement via an access port. After ambient functional checks are completed, electrical heaters warm, and a cascade refrigeration system cools the air stream. A seperate cooling unitcprovides dehumidification, and an electrically-heated vapo generator provides humidification. The preferred procedure is to operate the chamber with a hot cycle before decreasing the temperature below 4C (39F). A dry nitrogen purge system regulates humidity in the chamber to prevent front build-up on the test item.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 232 specifications)
Facility 233 (click for details)
Facility 233: 4' X 4' Temperature/Humidity Chamber
Description: This facility is a medium-sized chamber used for thermal and humidity cycling of medium-sized test items. A full-opening, hunged front door with a window allows for access and viewing.
Mode of Operation: The test item is installed in the chamber and connected to an external power source and data acquisition equipement via an access port. After ambient functional checks are completed, electrical heaters warm, and a cascade refrigeration system cools the air stream. A seperate cooling unitcprovides dehumidification, and an electrically-heated vapo generator provides humidification. The preferred procedure is to operate the chamber with a hot cycle before decreasing the temperature below 4C (39F). A dry nitrogen purge system regulates humidity in the chamber to prevent front build-up on the test item.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 233 specifications)
Facility 237 (click for details)
Facility 237: 7' X 8' Diffusion-Pump Vacuum Chamber
Description: This is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum test chamber equipped with a viewport to accommodate an external solar simulator. An overhead rail is available for mounting purposes and stainless steel tubes are available for hanging thermal blankets. The facility is used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out test items.
Mode of Operation: The test item is craned or hand carried onto the payload cart positioned at the chamber door. Typically, the payload is sintrumented and connected to GSE prior to rolling it into the chamber. Ground support equipment cabling is connected through the penetration plates and ambient functional checkes are performed. Prior to solar testing, it is normal to perform and alignment check of the test item with the external simulator.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 237 specifications)
Facility 238 (click for details)
Facility 238: 12' X 15' Cryo & Turbo Vacuum Chamber
Description: This is a vertical loading thermal vacuum test chamber used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out spacecraft hardware. A bracket containing stainless steel tubes is available for hanging thermal blankets. Ports for electrical feedthroughs, liquid/gas feedthroughs, and viewing are located around the perimeter of the chamber. A clean tent at the chamber entrance provides class 10,000 cleanliness conditions.
Mode of Operation: Test articles are normally loaded through the top of the chamber using the building crane; however, small payloads can be transported through the peronnel entrance. In some cases, special fixtures must be designed due to the uniqueness of the test article support system. Once installed, the payload is connected to the GSE via feedthroughs. Access to the chamber is through a clean tent.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 238 specifications)
Facility 239 (click for details)
Facility 239: 7' X 8' Cryopumped Vacuum Chamber
Description: This is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum test chamber equipped with a viewport to accommodate an external solar simulator. An overhead rail is available for mounting purposes and stainless steel tubes are available for hanging thermal blankets. The facility is used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out test items. A clean tent at the chamber entrance provides class 10,000 cleanliness conditions.
Mode of Operation: The test item is craned or hand carried onto the payload cart positioned at the chamber door. Typically, the payload is instrumented and connected to GSE prior to rolling it into the chamber. GSE cabling is connected through the penetration plates and ambient functional checks are performed. Prior to solar testing, it is normal to perform an alignment check of the test item with the external simulator. Access to the chamber is through a clean tent.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 239 specifications)
Facility 240 (click for details)
Facility 240: 3' X 3' Diffusion-Pump Vacuum Chamber
Description: This diffusion pumped facility is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum test chamber used for thermal vacuum testing and bakeout of test articles. The payload is mounted on a plate which is supported by rails welded to the chamber wall.
Mode of Operation: After the test article is instrumented with thermocouples and placed in the chamber, GSE cabling is connected through the penetration plates, and ambient functional checks are performed. Placing the test article on a baseplate or suspending it from the overhead rail is an acceptable mountiing method. Chamber evacuation is provided by rotary piston mechanical pumps and an oil diffusion pump. A main valve allows test setup while the pumping system is being established.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 240 specifications)
Facility 241: 3' X 3' Cryopumped Vacuum Chamber
Description: This cryopumped facility is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum chamber used for thermal vacuum testing and bakeout of test articles. The payload is mounted on a plate which is supported by rails welded to the chamber wall.
Mode of Operation: After the test article is instrumented with thermocouples and places in the chamber, GSE cabling is connected through the penetration plate, and ambient functional checks are performed. After roughing down the chamber with the rotary piston mechanical pump, ultimate pressure is achieved with the cryopump. A main valve allows test setup while the pumping system is being established.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 241 specifications)
Facility 241 (click for details)
Facility 245 (click for details)
Facility 245: 2' X 3' Thermal Vacuum Chamber
Description: This turbo tumped facility has a horizontal cylindrical chamber with a hinged door. The vacuum chamber is a horizontal stainless steel cylinder 2 feet in diameter by 3 feet deep. The side and rear shroud assembly rests on rails welded to chamber walls. The door shroud is hinged to the main circular side shroud. The shrouds of this facility are made of black anondized aluminum sheet. 500 Watt metal strip heaters are mounted to the backside of the shroud and controlled by Lambda heater power supplies. The chamber does not provide a method to cool the shrouds.
Mode of Operation: After the test article is instrumented with thermocouples and placed in the chamber, GSE cabling is connected through the penetration plate, and ambient functional checks are performed. After roughing down the chamber with the rotary vane mechanical pump, ultimate pressure is achieved with the turbopump. Ports for payload electrical feedthroughs and liquid/gas feedthroughs are located on the west side of the chamber. The vacuum system is comprised of one mechanical pump and 12" diameter turbopump.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 245 specifications)
Facility 290 (click for details)
Facility 290: 27' X 40' Cryopumped Vacuum Chamber
Description: Facility 290, also known as the Space Environment Simulator (SES) is a very large vertical loading thermal vacuum chamber capable of achieving ultra-low pressure and a wide range of thermal conditions. In addition to the 27'D X 40'H nitrogen shroud, two auxiliary helium shroud configurations are available (25'D X 15"H and 25'D X 27'H). A 1 kW at 20K heloum refrigerator is used to cool the helium shrouds and/or other auxiliary equipment. An integrated HEPA filtration system provides a Class 10,000 environment in the chamber and anteroom. The chamber is sused for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out very large test articles.
Mode of Operation: To load large test articles, the chamber dome is rolled back to allow loading with the overhead crane. Small test articles and equipment are brough in through the personnel entrance located in the basement. Wearing of clean garments is required. Entry to instrument the payload, connect GSE cabling, and install hardware is through a cleanroom air shower at the personnel door. Scaffolding may be erected to provide access to the payload. An area adjacent to the main facility control console is reserved for the experimenter's GSE.
Chamber evacuation is provided by eight rotary piston mechanical pumps with Roots blowers, seven cryopumps, and a turbomolecular pump. Thermal control is provided by an aluminum tube-in-sheet cylindrical shroud with both liquid nitrogen and gaseous notrogen operational modes. The dome and bottom schrouds are also connected to the thermal skid. Helium shrouds, resistance heater arrays, and gaseous nitrogen panels are available for special thermal requirementsa. Thermoelectric quartz crystal microbalances (TQCMs) and a residual gas analyzer (RGA) provide both quantitative and qualitative monitoring of molecular contamination and gareous constituents within the chamber. Closed circuit television coverage is available for monitoring the test article.
Rental Rate: Inquire
(Facility 290 specifications)