A space simulation chamber for space power insulation

The authors describe an experimental facility which has been designed specifically for the study of electrical insulation in a simulated space environment. They consider vacuum, temperature, nuclear radiation and atomic oxygen. The facility consists of a stainless steel high-vacuum chamber with a sample mounting arrangement which allows sample temperatures to be varied between 80 and 420 K. The materials being considered are Kapton and an epoxy resin formulation. Various electrical measurements are being undertaken and comprise primarily dielectric loss by frequency domain spectroscopy and prebreakdown current pulse activity under direct stress, while the provision exists for conductivity and breakdown measurements. Measurements are made in real time under vacuum, temperature, and low-dose-rate electromagnetic radiation following an aging procedure.< >