The Instiute for Space Systems holds a vacuum tank which is exclusively used for thermal-vacuum test of satellite components. By means of the absent of convection it is possible to simulate similar conditions for satellite systems as they happen to be in earth orbit.

The low pressure in the chamber is generated by two different pumps. At first a vane pump establishes a prevacuum which is needed by the turbo pump.

During the tests the satellite components are exposed to different temperatures while monitioring their functionality. This is mandatory since the temperature in a satellite can vary more than 100 K.  The temperature of the components can be adjusted by a circulator, which pumps silicon oil through a copper plate and thus cools or heats the plate.

With the data of temperature sensores on different locations of the component, the measurements can be compared with the mathematical predictions. The image below shows a component populated with temperature sensores (red) during a test in the thermal-vacuum-chamber.