A ground-based facility for nanosatellite systems testing in relevant environments

There is a growing demand for a modern ground-based facility for accurate spacecraft environment simulation. The function of simulation facilities is to assist scientists and engineers in the design and selection of materials and systems for future space missions. There are currently facilities in existence that simulate space; however they are generally limited to testing one or two environmental factors at a time. This has drawbacks in that the combined effects of multiple environmental parameters can affect materials and systems in a different manner than the singular factors alone. The Chamber for Atmospheric and Orbital Space Simulation (ChAOSS) is currently being developed at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs to simulate multiple parameters of the orbital and inter orbital environments that spacecraft will be exposed to in future missions. This facility will have the ability to accurately simulate multiple space environment conditions allowing for synergistic testing of materials, thermal systems, electronics, and optics. To ensure a higher rate of mission success, sensors need to be tested prior to conducting on-orbit measurements to evaluate the influence of the space environment in relation to sensor performance. The growing demand for smaller spacecraft and diagnostic equipment has been made feasible by recent advances in micromachining and the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Due to the reduced size of nanosatellites the ChAOSS facility will have the unique ability to provide experimental validation and calibration of sensors in relevant environments during the design, development, and testing phase. In addition to these applications the facility is of sufficient size to be a potential testbed for a completed nanosatellite system.