The National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) was officially opened this week, equipped with the capability to ground test satellites of up to seven tonnes.
The center in Harwell, Oxfordshire, which has cost £100 million (US$127million) to build, hosts the UK’s largest space test chamber
The opening ceremony was attended by government officials and companies from the space industry, including representatives from the European Space Agency’s (ESA), who recently signed a contract with the National Satellite Test Facility’s (NSTF’s) to test the Ariel payload there.
Ariel is an astronomy mission that will study the chemistry of around 1000 planets outside our solar system, with RAL (Rutherford Appleton) Space leading the international payload consortium and the mission science led by University College London (UCL).
Other Contracts have been signed to test ESA’s FLEX Earth observation satellite on behalf of Thales Alenia Space, and with Airbus Defence and Space to test UK Ministry of Defence’s SKYNET 6A communications satellite later this year.
STFC Executive Chair, Professor Mark Thomson, Director of RAL Space, Dr Sarah Beardsley, and UK Space Agency CEO, Dr Paul Bate as well as representatives from leading companies in the UK space sector.
The STFC includes a dynamics suite, where satellites will be shaken and exposed to levels of sound replicating that of a rocket launch, and a 7m (23ft)-diameter space test chamber to simulate the vacuum and temperature conditions of space. It also features an electromagnetic compatibility and antenna test chamber where satellites’ communications systems can be tested securely.
The Center is being operated by RAL Space, which already operates a range of vacuum chambers up to 5m (16ft) in diameter and a smaller-scale vibration facility. RAL Space has already led directly to the creation of 30 new jobs.
Dr Sarah Beardsley, director of RAL Space said, “I’m delighted that the National Satellite Test Facility is open for business. This is a huge achievement not just for RAL Space, but for the wider UK space sector.
“It has taken a lot of effort to get to this point, but the exciting part – using this facility to support the delivery of the National Space Strategy and prepare large-scale satellites for their various missions in space – is only just about to begin. I’m very proud that RAL Space’s heritage and expertise in space science, technology development and testing is recognized in this flagship facility.”
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency said, “Once a satellite is in orbit, the options are limited if something goes wrong – that’s why having world-class facilities that can simulate the harsh conditions of launching and surviving in space is so important.
“We’re proud to be using the National Satellite Test Facility for the Ariel payload, and it’s clear that satellite manufacturers across the UK will benefit from the suite of services now available to them, delivered by the expert team at STFC RAL Space”.
