Lorentz Test Chamber

The Low-temperature Near-field Terahertz chamber, or LORENTZ, performs high-frequency radio-frequency testing in operational space conditions. The custom built, 2.8 m diameter test chamber is the first of its kind in Europe. The test chamber successfully combines deep space vacuum conditions with ultra-low temperatures – recreating the deep chill of space.

ESTEC is fortunate to have a wide range of antenna test facilities, typically seen with the famously big-and-blue anechoic foam spikes. These spikes cover the walls of the test chamber, absorbing unwanted radiation and reflections from interfering with the antenna tests. The test chambers accurately measure the antenna’s performance before it is launched, allowing engineers to verify how the antenna will perform under space-based conditions.

For future, high frequency antennas, a more precise understanding of their performance is needed. As the frequency of the radiation increases, the wavelength gets smaller, and both the tolerances and the distances between components become far more sensitive. While an antenna can be manufactured to meet these tolerances, it must still cope with large variations in temperature. The spacecraft’s distance from the Sun plays an important role on the temperature of the antenna.

Temperature variations can cause components to expand and contract, which creates distortions and makes the antenna go out of focus. Distortions can cause a large amount of uncertainty on what the antenna, or instrument, is looking at. Any uncertainty reduces the scientific impact of the data collection from the mission. It is very important that engineers can verify that the receivers (or detectors) can operate at the requirement temperature.

Antenna testing compliments all the other thermal vacuum testing that occurs at the ESTEC Test Centre. Engineers and scientists work together to ensure that the spacecraft, and mission, will be a success.