Authors:
A. Paolozzi
1
;
I. Ciufolini
2
;
C. Paris
1
and
G. Sindoni
3
Affiliations:
1
Sapienza University of Rome and Centro Fermi, Italy
;
2
University of Salento and Centro Fermi, Italy
;
3
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Keyword(s):
Thermo-vacuum Testing, Space Simulator, E-Learning, LARES.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Computer-Supported Education
;
e-Learning
;
e-Learning in Engineering Education
Abstract:
LARES, an Italian Space Agency satellite, has been successfully launched in 2012. A small thermo-vacuum
facility has been specifically designed and built for testing the optical components of the satellite in
simulated space environment. Due to the extremely demanding performances of LARES satellite, the
facility has been built using the most up-to-date technology available. In particular Sun, Earth and deep
space can be simulated in a ultra high vacuum. When the tests connected with the LARES mission reduced,
it was decided to devote the thermo-vacuum chamber also to didactic activities. The facility was designed to
be operated remotely only for some basic operations. The full automation of the facility is in progress in
order to provide the students and the researchers with easy and long term access, including also the
possibility to operate remotely from the internet and perform complex tests. The students will then have a
big opportunity to learn in practice all the aspects of th
ermo-vacuum testing, which are of paramount
importance in the space industry. It will be possible to perform thermal tests from either the classroom or
home, by exposing the specimen for a specified amount of time, toward Earth, Sun or deep space
simulators. They will collect pressures and temperatures and will input additional thermal power through
resistive heaters. The paper will first describe the facility and its capabilities showing the tests performed on
the LARES satellite components, then will focus mainly on the planned upgrades that will improve its
remote use both for research and e-learning.
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