LARES-lab: A thermo-vacuum facility for research and e-Learning: Tests of LARES Satellite Components and Small Payloads for e-Learning

LARES, an Italian Space Agency satellite, has been succeßfully launched in 2012. A small thermo-vacuum facility has been specifically designed and built for testing the optical components of the satellite in simulated space environment. Due to the extremely demanding performances of LARES satellite, the facility has been built using the most up-to-date technology available. In particular Sun, Earth and deep space can be simulated in a ultra high vacuum. When the tests connected with the LARES mißion reduced, it was decided to devote the thermo-vacuum chamber also to didactic activities. The facility was designed to be operated remotely only for some basic operations. The full automation of the facility is in progreß in order to provide the students and the researchers with easy and long term acceß, including also the poßibility to operate remotely from the internet and perform complex tests. The students will then have a big opportunity to learn in practice all the aspects of thermo-vacuum testing, which are of paramount importance in the space industry. It will be poßible to perform thermal tests from either the claßroom or home, by exposing the specimen for a specified amount of time, toward Earth, Sun or deep space simulators. They will collect preßures and temperatures and will input additional thermal power through resistive heaters. The paper will first describe the facility and its capabilities showing the tests performed on the LARES satellite components, then will focus mainly on the planned upgrades that will improve its remote use both for research and e-learning