The National Satellite Test Facility at RAL Space, the UK's national space lab on the Harwell Campus, lets companies integrate and test satellites of up to 7,000kg under one roof for the first time in the UK. It is designed to help British industry win more national and international space contracts for decades to come.
Over three years, from October 2020 to November 2023, Thomas Halliwell provided power and data to the facility's science and clean-room areas. We worked for Asgard Controlled Environments on the clean rooms, then for Ametek and European EMC Products across the rest of the building.
The building simulates every stage of a mission. Vibration rigs reproduce launch, an acoustic facility recreates its noise, and a thermal vacuum chamber 7m in diameter and 12m long cycles between +130°C and −180°C.
The electromagnetic compatibility (anechoic) chamber needed an electrically clean environment so that a satellite's emissions could be measured accurately. We powered it through isolating transformers, creating an electrically shielded space inside the building.
- Clean-room power and data
- Isolating-transformer supplies to the EMC chamber
- Power to vibration and acoustic test facilities
- Thermal vacuum chamber services
- Coordination across multiple specialist sub-contractors
“It was a complex project that meant we had to bring together several innovative thinkers, including Thomas Halliwell, whose work to power the facility was outstanding.”
“It was a complex job that required many bespoke solutions, including creating an electrically shielded space, but we carried them out with meticulous attention to detail.”
