Facility 237 is a horizontal, medium-sized, environmental test chamber equipped with a viewport to accomodate an external solar simulator. The facility is used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out test items. |
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Mode of Operation
The test item is mounted on the portable payload fixture which is positioned at the chamber door. An overhead rail is also available for mounting purposes. The payload is instrumented with thermocouples and rolled into the internal chamber. Ground support equipment cabling is connected through the penetration plates and ambient functional checks are performed. Prior to solar testing, it is normal to perform an alignment check of the test item with the external simulator.
Chamber evacuation is provided by a rotary piston mechanical pump and an oil diffusion pump. Rapid pump down can also be performed. A sliding gate main valve allows chamber access while the pumping systems are established. An auxiliary liquid helium cooled shroud can be installed to provide an ultracold payload environment.
Parameters
Test Pressure: 5 x 10-7 mmHg
Shroud Temperature: GN2 mode -140°C to +100°C , LN2 mode -190°C
Chamber Pump: Oil diffusion pump
Physical Characteristics
Test Volume: 7' x 8'
Payload Support: Wheeled cart - 5,000 lb. capacity
Viewports: 12" diameter quartz window
IStd. electrical feedthroughs: 61-pin, 37-pin, 7-pin, 4-pin, RF
Integral Instrumentation
Pressure: Capacitance manometer - Atm to 10-3 mmHg
Ion Gauge: 10-3 mmHg to ultimate
Payload Temperature: 126 thermocouple channels
Contamination Monitor: TQCM, coldfinger, residual gas analyzer
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