Fast Oxygen LEO Space Environment Simulators

Fast Oxygen LEO Space Environment Simulators

Space Environment Simulators (SES), which are cutting-edge, fully computerized experimental facilities, are used in order to test, qualify, and estimate the lifetime of spacecraft materials and coatings under simulated conditions of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space environment.

To determine their durability and learn more about the mechanisms that cause material damage, the materials under investigation can be exposed in SES systems to high vacuum, Fast Atomic Oxygen (FAO), Thermal Atomic Oxygen (TAO), Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation (VUV), Near-Ultraviolet Radiation (NUV), and Temperature Cycling (TC).

Studying the interactions of heat and hyper-thermal atomic oxygen with materials is one use for the LEO SES system.

• Measuring the wear and tear on a spacecraft’s exterior under the conditions of space (low, polar, and geostationary earth orbits).
• The investigation of radiation harm processes.
• Prediction of the evolution of the thermo-optical characteristics of the coatings and materials used in thermal control in simulated space circumstances.
• Lifetime assessment of organic-based materials utilized on the outer surfaces of the ISS, as well as VLEO and LEO spacecraft.
• The main LEO environmental factors that can be replicated in the simulator facilities are: Ultra-high vacuum conditions (1E6 -1E7 Torr); FAO beams (4.5 – 5.5 eV); 
• TAO (0.03 -0.3 eV); 
• VUV radiation (120 nm – 200 nm); 
• NUV (-150°C to +150°C) thermal cycling. 

Video 01: Aerostabilized LEO Satellite