New Space Simulation Facility arrives at AITC

18 September 2013

After nearly a year of construction at Dynavac in the USA, the Space Simulation Facility (S2F) has arrived in Australia and is currently being assembled and commissioned in the AITC Integration Hall at The Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

This facility simulates the vacuum and thermal conditions of space (-170oC to +150oC) and makes it possible to measure the performance of space-based instruments and small satellites under space conditions. The facility will also be used to test and evaluate the Australian instruments currently being developed for the Giant Magellan Telescope.

This is the first time Australia has had such a facility. It is an important new capability to support the development of precision instrumentation for astronomy and Australia’s participation in the global space industry.

The facility was designed for maximum flexibility to service the diverse needs of Australian industry and research. The chamber can be operated in two configurations:

  1. With the plume capture and mass balance for thruster testing;
  2. Without the extra shrouds for satellite and instrumentation testing.

The Australian Plasma Thruster, developed at ANU, will be the first item tested in the chamber. The three Australian CubeSats, which will be launched as part of the European QB50 mission, will also be tested in the facility.

Click here to view a time-lapse video of the assembly of the S2F.