Element U.S. Space & Defense has added a Thermal Vacuum Chamber to its Space Simulation Center of Excellence in Santa Clarita, CA. It is a new chamber equipped to conduct testing for satellites, flight electronics, sensors, payloads, and mission-critical hardware.
The Santa Clarita facility is a comprehensive environmental test site, which includes capabilities such as Thermal Vacuum (TVAC), Shock, Vibration, Acoustics, and EMI/EMC testing under one team, at one location, making it a one-stop-shop for space simulation testing. The payoff for customers is direct: fewer handoffs between its vendors, less hardware handling, lower transit risk, and a single point of accountability across the qualification stage. And because the facility is CMMC Level 2 certified, we are equipped to handle Controlled Unclassified Information in a secure environment. No workarounds, no exceptions.
Right-sized test volume. A 45” diameter × 45”length stainless steel chamber (~50 ft³) handles both component- and subsystem-level testing. Programs get flexibility across hardware sizes without paying for, or waiting on, a larger and higher-cost facility.
Oil-free vacuum. A multi-stage, high-capacity dry roughing and foreline pumping system eliminates hydrocarbon contamination risk entirely. Sensitive flight hardware stays clean, and reduced maintenance means the chamber stays available when your schedule needs it.
Fast pump-down. A high-capacity turbomolecular pump (1,100 l/s) delivers rapid evacuation and stable pressure control. Shorter pump-down means shorter test cycles and more campaigns completed on schedule.
Clean, repeatable conditions. Equipped with a cryogenic high-vacuum pump, this allows the chamber to efficiently capture water vapor and residual gases, which are the primary contamination sources in space simulation testing. In addition, the chamber is housed within an ISO 8 cleanroom, with a surrounding controlled support area for hardware integration and setup, ensuring optimal cleanliness and handling throughout the testing process. Cleaner, more stable conditions mean repeatable results and higher confidence in your test data, especially for sensitive flight hardware.
On-orbit realism. Ultimate vacuum on the order of ~1×10⁻⁸ torr replicates the environment your hardware will face while on orbit. This supports the full range of space qualification requirements, from component-level validation to more demanding contamination-sensitive testing applications.
With the addition of this new TVAC chamber, Element U.S. Space & Defense’s Santa Clarita facility reinforces its position as a true one-stop-shop for space simulation testing—bringing every critical qualification service together under one roof, streamline programs, reduce risk, and accelerate mission success.
Looking ahead, Element U.S. Space & Defense is preparing to introduce an additional next-generation Thermal Vacuum chamber by 2028—further expanding capacity and capability to support the evolving demands of space qualification programs.
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