Satellite The Hubble telescope fallback image

Vacuum technology for space applications

Enabling tomorrow's space research

Many of the products we use every day can trace their origins back to space missions.

But it’s future research that will have the most profound impact on mankind. It's telling that the core objectives that space research is turning its attention to mirror some of the most pressing challenges for mankind:

  • How to create abundant, powerful but clean sources of energy?
  • Exploring other planets: could they support human life?
  • Expanding our knowledge of science, astrobiology and the origins of our universe
  • Developing new technologies, medicine, and infrastructure to support future generations

However this knowledge comes at a cost: space missions are extremely expensive and occur in the most challenging environments known to man. For this reason, it is critical that every component, process, and component that will be used in space is extensively tested. Fixing failures post-launch is often impossible and always comes with a great cost.

Our vacuum technology simulates space like conditions on earth, allowing many different and necessary tests to take place here... for use there.

Examples of pre-launch space tests taking place today

Many of the vacuum systems we design and build are tailor-made for their purpose. Here are some examples of typical space-mission tests where our technology is used.

Electric propulsion and thruster testing

Allows for the testing of thrusters over long periods of time to ensure the thrusters can maintain performance levels and withstand space conditions over long-duration space missions.

 UNIVEX S XTT
Thermal vacuum chambers

All components that will be used in space must be tested for their durability to extreme temperatures as well as irradiation (light). The thermal cycling range of TVAC’s can be between 70k and 400k.

UNIVEX S TC internal view
Telescope mirror coating

The recoating of large, highly sensitive mirrors in silver or aluminium needs to be redone every 1-2 years in vacuum. This is essential for their optimal performance.

Large telescope mirror
Telescope detector cooling

Our cryogenic technology is used to reduce the temperature of receivers down to as low as 4k. This allows telescopes to detect beyond observable-light as well as ultraviolet, gamma and microwaves.

Radio telescope at night
Mass degradation and vacuum bakeout

Total Mass Loss (TML) tests measure the degradation of elements to harsh space environments to determine their durability over long periods of time.

Internal view of UNIVEX S TML

Allows for the testing of thrusters over long periods of time to ensure the thrusters can maintain performance levels and withstand space conditions over long-duration space missions.

 UNIVEX S XTT

All components that will be used in space must be tested for their durability to extreme temperatures as well as irradiation (light). The thermal cycling range of TVAC’s can be between 70k and 400k.

UNIVEX S TC internal view

The recoating of large, highly sensitive mirrors in silver or aluminium needs to be redone every 1-2 years in vacuum. This is essential for their optimal performance.

Large telescope mirror

Our cryogenic technology is used to reduce the temperature of receivers down to as low as 4k. This allows telescopes to detect beyond observable-light as well as ultraviolet, gamma and microwaves.

Radio telescope at night

Total Mass Loss (TML) tests measure the degradation of elements to harsh space environments to determine their durability over long periods of time.

Internal view of UNIVEX S TML

What vacuum technologies for which space tests?

 
Fore vacuum pumps Turbo pumps Cryo pumps Cryo cooling Custom chamber
Propulsion/thruster testing  
Thermal vacuum chamber testing
Mass degradation & bakeout
Telescope mirror coating      
Telescope mirror cooling    

At Leybold we are one of the only vacuum technology suppliers able to provide a true 360° range of products. 

Whilst our portfolio is extensive and diverse, the solutions we provide to the space industry fall into 5 distinct equipment categories.

Fore-vacuum pumps

Those pumps are used to reduce pressure ranges from atmospheric down to 1e-2 mbar, depending on the type of pump used.

For mid- to large volume chamber excavations would typically use high throughput pumps such as:

For smaller chambers more suitable options would be:

High Vacuum (HV)

High-vacuum (HV) pressure ranges are typically achieved in the space industry using turbomolecular pumps. Our extensive range comes in various sizes, pumping speeds, and with variants tailormade for specific applications.

Cryogenic technology

Cryogenic technology consists of 3 key elements. These technologies can be configured in different ways to achieve different purposes:

  • The COOLPOWER e cold heads and COOLPAK e helium compressors combine to make cryogenic refrigeration/cooling systems.
  • The COOLVAC e cryogenic vacuum pumps provide UHV vacuum up to 10,000 l/sThese are often used in conjunction the COOLPOWER e & COOLPAK e for specific processes.

Vacuum chambers & systems

Our UNIVEX vacuum chambers create the real-estate where testing takes place. Some chambers are large enough to house entire spacecraft, whilst others are designed to interrogate individual elements.

As well as simulating the vacuum of space others, such as the TVAC, recreate extreme temperatures variances, or the TML which measures the loss-of-mass over long periods of time in challenging conditions.

Many of these our UNIVEX systems are tailor-made to the remits of specific projects.

Measurement & instrumentation

Building a true turnkey vacuum system also requires the installation of measurement and control technologies such as sensors, gauges and transmitters along with residual gas analyzers and leak detection systems. Additionally, we supply all types of valves, fittings and flanges which connects our technology together.

The future of space research

Perfectly balanced turnkey vacuum systems, constructed for very specific purposes, from a diverse range of vacuum solutions.

Building bespoke systems is a core principle in the development of all the technologies we create for the space sector. 

As the ambitions and technical remits of future projects evolves, so does the technology that allows space research to take place. Future projects are moving on from simply considering the implications of launch-orbit-re-entry. New areas of research include:

Deep space exploration

Expanding our knowledge of planets and galaxies beyond our solar system, events soon after the big bang and understanding the origins of the universe.

Exoplanet research

Searching for planets that could, or could have, supported life. This involves both the search for extraterrestrial life as well as the feasibility of our own future interplanetary colonization.

Astrobiology

Understanding how the universe works, on micro and macro biological level, as well as expanding our knowledge in general terms research in this area will directly inform future missions.

Asteroid mining

It has been estimated that near limitless sources of natural resources and core elements exist on asteroids, access to them would bring significant economic and environmental opportunities and may provide new sources of energy for future missions.

Space debris management

With an exponential number of satellite launches planned in the coming decades, adding to the number of objects in space, multiple projects have been planned to begin the process of clearing debris in orbit around our planet.

Interplanetary colonization

Understanding if human life could be supported on other planets, how we would get there, how we would build the supporting infrastructure required, and how we would source the food and energy supplies needed to support life.

Enabling a positive future through vacuum

Collaboration and innovation are intrinsically linked. Since 1850 we, at Leybold, have been designing and building vacuum solutions that allow projects across science, industry and R&D develop tomorrows technology.

Speak to our team: our tailormade turnkey systems can enable our next mission!

High, Ultra-high & Extreme High Vacuum: the fundamentals

Download our e-Book to understand the challenges associated with achieving and working with high, ultra-high or extreme high vacuum and what needs to be considered.

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