Thermal Vacuum Chamber V-20 is located at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), part of the MSFC Environmental Test Facilities (EFT) complex used to simulate the harsh environments encountered by space-borne craft and components. The ETF replicates those environments in its 27 chambers, which can be configured individually to mimic high vacuums, extreme temperatures, wide humidity swings, and high-altitude conditions.

Most recently, this chamber was used to perform a leak test on the Orion crew module, which is slated to carry astronauts back to the Moon as part of the Artemis mission. The V-20 has also reproduced conditions experienced by components of the International Space Station (ISS), a ground-based preview intended to familiarize ISS astronauts with the behaviors of critical equipment while on orbit.

The chamber’s pumping system for V-20 includes three 36-inch cryopumps, two maglev turbopumps and one regular turbopump. The V-20’s 6-DOF mechanism provides the unique capability to perform actual fly-in and mating of hardware in a simulated space environment.

Read more about Thermal Vacuum Chamber V-20 at Marshall Space Flight Center.

To arrange testing in this facility, please contact Victor Pritchett or email hq-setmo@mail.nasa.gov.