Technical aspects of specifying and installing a new 3-meter EMI measurement chamber for NASA Johnson space center

Recently, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) limits and test methods for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle Program (SSP) were revised to incorporate portions of MIL-STD-461E. Use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment is becoming the preferred solution for equipment integration whenever practicable. NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) engineers recommended a commercial 3-meter chamber as an optimal solution for EMI test and flight certification that would best serve the needs of the Program over the next decade. This paper discusses that recommendation and its background, together with other issues associated with the technical specification and installation of such a chamber.