The 6mφ radiometer space chamber simulates the environmental conditions to which a spacecraft is exposed in space, such as high vacuum and cryogenic temperature, to verify the endurance, function, and temperature profile of a test item. The chamber allows the testing of small to mid-sized spacecraft or equipment to be loaded on a spacecraft.
It simulates the high vacuum and cryogenic environments in space respectively with vacuum pumps and shrouds covering the walls of the facility through which LN2 circulates. It is also capable of local cooling to below −250°C by using a device called a space background.
A solar simulator, which is installed in both the 13mφ and 8mφ space chambers, is not installed in this chamber, but a high temperature environment can be simulated with IR heaters instead.
The facility is designed for optical-property verification tests on optical equipment on board earth observation satellites, etc. that utilizes reflection and interference of light. Because of high susceptibility to varied light incidence angles, optical-property verification tests require isolation from the ground vibration, which in this facility is achieved with the aid of an optical bench and an isolated foundation. This facility is also characterized by its cleanroom with a higher cleanroom level (ISO 14644, class 7) than those of other space chambers, and a clean booth kept in a high cleanroom level environment (ISO 14644, class 5).
