XO-VAC

A low-cost, desktop thermal vacuum chamber for CubeSats, nanosatellites, and small payloads. XO-VAC simulates the extreme environmental conditions of space by exposing payloads to high vacuum across a wide temperature range. TVAC testing is considered the most important ground test by most hardware designers and users. XO-VAC has been developed to solve customer problems, including:

• Lack of ground testing causes ~70% of CubeSat mission failures [1], [2].

• TVAC facilities are hard to come by and expensive (~£6,000/day).

• Lack of access discourages testing during product development cycles.

• Lack of access prohibits testing in general, leading to high COTS failure rates (<25%).

This all-in-one solution is significantly cheaper than external TVAC facility rentals or purchase of larger, more widely available systems. By eliminating lead times and high testing costs, the team at Exobotics is increasing the confidence that engineers have in their systems. In short, XO-VAC is:

1. The only low-cost, portable, compact, low-maintenance solution on the market.

2. Your very own personal test facility, enabling rapid iterations through product lifecycle.

3. Perfect for cutting out waiting time and facility cost.

4. A customer-oriented solution where customisation is offered as standard.

Specification

From £48,000, the XO-VAC base model features:

• Overall dimensions: 1260 mm x 750 mm x 600 mm

• Working volume: 8.4L / 3U CubeSat

• Temperature range: -25 C to 125 C

• Thermal: radiation via shroud and/or conduction via tray

• ΔT across payload tray: < 1 C at equilibrium

• Vacuum range: 1E-7 mbar to 1 atm

• Time to each 1E-5 mbar: < 15 min

• Time to vent: < 10 min, automated

• Feedthroughs: signal and power included

• Power: via conventional mains plug, 400W typical

• Control: via USB, software included for Windows OS.

Applications

Including, but not limited to:

• Component verification

• Failure mode analysis

• Temperature drift compensation 

• Thermal management system performance analysis

• Subsystem and platform level testing

• RT vacuum applications

• Outgassing / contamination assessment

• Load balancing of processing units

• Quality control of manufactured products

• Nanosatellite bake-out, qualification, and acceptance testing

• Thermal Vacuum Cycling of payloads and satellites

Need to double your productivity? Easy.