Thermal and Vacuum Chamber (TVAC)

The laboratory is equipped with a Thermal and Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) that emulates the outer space conditions. This facility is mainly used to perform the environmental campaign in CubeSat missions. The facility is located within an ISO Class 8 clean room and it has a heating system based on three infrared lamps and a cooling system based on liquid nitrogen. The entire facility is operated through a centralized computer that controls the temperature and vacuum levels depending on a target reference.

The facility has been largely used in different missions to conduct qualification and acceptance environmental tests to ensure that the satellite can withstand the thermal and pressure conditions found in outer space.