Satellite Assembly, Integration, and Testing - Satellite Applications Catapult
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Satellite Assembly, Integration, and Testing

Location: Harwell

Our Satellite assembly, integration and testing capabilities are located in the Zephyr Building at Harwell Campus. This facility provides access to equipment and expertise to help you innovate and accelerate the development of new products and services.

With end-to-end design, modelling, testing and production equipment in a collaborative engineering environment, we can help you develop new solutions for large-scale market opportunities. 

We’re enabling companies to take an R&D project from proof of concept through to a full-sized prototype, manufactured at quality levels and scales sufficient to undertake end-customer validation.

With competitive rates, our capabilities are open to industry and academia to provide equipment that is frequently out-of-reach to small or medium-sized companies.

Capabilities

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Clean Rooms, Lab and Design Space

We have four 36 sqm ISO 7 Clean Rooms available for hire – all fully equipped with standard electrical supplies, electro-static discharge tables, and ESD flooring, compressed clean air lines, and wi-fi. Clean rooms are available to rent for periods of as little as a month (subject to availability).

We have two dedicated lab spaces each with ESD flooring and tables. Lab 1 is 39 m2 while Lab 2 is 18 m2. Within the facility we have a flexible lab and design space of approximately 136m2.

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Environmental Chamber

We offer an Environmental Testing capability – with a 1076 litre capacity and a Temperature range -75°C to 180°C.

Specification:

  • Discovery My Climatic Chamber, DM1200 C ES
  • 1076 litre capacity
  • Internal dimensions 1000mm x 1130mm x 953mm (WxDxH)
  • Temperature range -75°C to 180°C
  • Relative humidity range 10% to 98% (within temperature range 10°C to 95°C)
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Vibration Table

Our Vibration Table gives you confidence in your product’s reliability with a Sine and Random force of 22kN. Our experts are on hand to support with each stage of your product’s development.

Specification

  • IMV A22 Vibration Test System
  • Centrotecnica RT 600 Slip Table
  • 3 VRC VR9500 vibration controllers – 12 channels in total
  • 22 kN Sine and 22 kN Random force
  • Sine acceleration 100g
  • Random acceleration 63g rms
  • 300 kg max load
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Thermal Vacuum Chamber

Our Thermal Vacuum Chamber allows you to test how your satellite or component will perform in the vacuum of space.

A user friendly control interface and remote access means that you can carry out much of the testing process yourself, keeping costs to a minimum.

 Located in our ISO7 clean rooms to minimise risks of contamination. Clean rooms can be rented for final assembly and integration.

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Equipment

FieldFox

SMW200A Signal Generator

Sailor 250 FB Antenna

R&S Power Sensor

Phase/Amplitude Shifters

PCB inspection station with dome light, x10 lense and monitor

PCB Inspection Camera

Kurtz Ersa

High Speed Agilent MSO X 4154A Mixed signal Analyser - Oscilloscope

FSW 50 Signal and Spectrum Analyser

Oscilloscope - 4 Ports

Vector Network Analyser - 4 Ports

Gallery

Wooden facade of a modern building labeled "CATAPULT" above a glass entrance.
Modern building with vertical panel design, large windows, and a red "CATAPULT" sign; handicapped parking spaces in front.
A scientist in a white lab suit and gloves works on a laptop at a laboratory workstation.
Cleanroom with reflective floor, blue industrial door, empty workstations, and chairs along the white walls.
Lab technician in protective gear examines a sample under a microscope in a laboratory setting.
Technician in white suit and blue gloves inspects a circuit board under a magnifying lamp, with a laptop nearby.
Technician in white coveralls operates equipment in a cleanroom environment.
Person in lab coat and gloves operates industrial equipment in a sterile room.
Person in lab gear operating equipment with ACS logo, wearing blue gloves and a protective suit.
Person in lab coat and gloves opens a large, stainless steel industrial incubator with fans inside.
Large lab equipment labeled "discovery" by ACS in a sterile room with a blue wall and white shelving.
A clean, empty laboratory room with three chairs and desks, featuring a blue roll-up door and polished gray floor.
Scientist in protective gear operates equipment in a clean laboratory environment.
A large silver industrial machine in a clean room with pipes and gauges on a polished floor.
Lab technician in protective gear examines a sample under a microscope in a laboratory setting.

Get in Touch

We can help you identify where you are on your development journey, connect you with industry experts, and highlight relevant equipment — facilities@sa.catapult.org.uk

Discover our Facilities

Room with blue anechoic foam panels and equipment for testing electromagnetic waves.

Antenna and RF Testing
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In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing

Contact Our Team