Space exploration has been ongoing for many years, with scientists striving to recreate the conditions of outer space in laboratories on Earth.
Since the 1960s, when astronaut Yuri Gagarin first broke the boundaries of Earth, humanity has made significant strides in the journey of space exploration. Since then, astronauts have set foot on the Moon, lived in space stations, and conducted numerous important research studies.
However, due to the harsh environment of space, preparing and training astronauts under similar conditions is essential. This is why facilities that simulate the space environment have been established, ensuring safety and efficiency for human missions in space.
Why is it necessary to simulate the space environment?
Outer space is a harsh environment in which most forms of life cannot survive. The absence of gravity, low pressure, and high radiation are challenges that humans face when venturing beyond Earth’s orbit. Therefore, to adapt and successfully carry out missions in outer space, astronauts must be trained under similar conditions.
Outer space is a harsh environment. (Illustrative image).
Recreating the space environment in laboratories helps space agencies prepare astronauts thoroughly. The simulated conditions include microgravity, extremely low pressure, sudden temperature changes, and the effects of electromagnetic radiation. These factors are crucial not only for training humans but also for testing and ensuring that equipment, satellites, and telescopes can function well in the harsh conditions of outer space.
Prominent NASA Simulation Centers
One of the pioneering organizations in simulating the space environment is NASA. Johnson Space Center and Sonny Carter Training Facility are two prominent locations that NASA uses for astronaut training and equipment testing.
NASA is one of the pioneering organizations in simulating the space environment.
Among these, The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at the Sonny Carter Center is a particularly important facility. Here, microgravity is simulated by allowing astronauts to float in a massive pool of water. Using specially designed weightless or buoyant equipment, astronauts can replicate the weightlessness condition, helping them acclimate to the environment during spacewalks. Although this model does not entirely mimic the weightlessness of space (astronauts still feel the weight of their suits and the resistance of water), neutral buoyancy remains the most effective training method available today.
In addition to NBL, NASA operates several other facilities to test spacecraft components. The thermal vacuum chambers at Johnson Space Center simulate the cold vacuum of space to test the endurance of electronic and mechanical components. For example, Chamber B, one of the prominent vacuum chambers, uses an overhead monorail to reduce the weight of equipment and allow astronaut trainees to practice in conditions similar to weightlessness.
Extreme Condition Simulation Facilities at Glenn Research Center
NASA operates many other facilities to test spacecraft components.
In addition to Johnson Space Center, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio also features advanced setups to simulate the extreme conditions of space. The Space Environment Complex (SEC) at Glenn allows scientists to test impacts such as vibrations from sound, electromagnetic radiation, and issues related to prolonged exposure to vacuum. Inside the SEC, researchers can recreate space-like conditions using rough pumps and turbomolecular pumps to create an extremely high vacuum environment.
A special component of the SEC is the Space Power Facility (SPF), where electromagnetic interference (EM) and electromagnetic compatibility testing of equipment is conducted. These tests ensure that radiation from stars and other sources does not affect the instruments and devices used in space missions.
ESA’s Parabolic Flights and Low Gravity Simulation Technology
The European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Germany has a 10-meter deep pool for training astronauts.
The European Space Agency (ESA) also possesses advanced space environment training facilities. The European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Germany features a 10-meter deep pool for astronaut training for spacewalks. In addition to ground-based space models, ESA also conducts parabolic flights to create microgravity conditions.
Parabolic flights are a method of simulating low gravity by adjusting the flight path of an aircraft. During this process, the aircraft is controlled to fly along a parabolic trajectory, creating microgravity for approximately 20-22 seconds. This allows scientists to conduct microgravity-related experiments without using water tanks or buoyant equipment. These flights are also utilized in film production, as seen in the movie “Apollo 13”, aiming to recreate the weightless environment as realistically as possible.
Simulation of parabolic flight.
Exploring Exoplanet Environments: A Significant Scientific Advancement
In addition to simulating conventional space conditions, scientists today are also focusing on recreating the environments of exoplanets to determine the potential for life. At the University of Colorado Boulder, a research team is working to replicate the atmospheres and climates of distant planets, helping us better understand the feasibility of extraterrestrial life.
Exoplanet environment simulation devices are designed to achieve extremely high temperatures and pressures, simulating the harshest conditions of exoplanets. This equipment can reach temperatures up to 1000 Kelvin and pressures hundreds of times greater than Earth’s atmospheric pressure. By directing frequency-comb laser beams into the gas within the device, scientists can analyze spectral responses to compare with data from telescopes, thereby determining the atmospheric composition and climatic conditions of those planets.
