Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom (SLAC)

Category: Facilities
A thermal vacuum chamber inside the Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom can be used for technology development and qualification testing of laser systems in vacuum conditions at different temperatures that simulate the space environment
A thermal vacuum chamber inside the Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom can be used for technology development and qualification testing of laser systems in vacuum conditions at different temperatures that simulate the space environment.

Advancing Laser Technology for Space Exploration

The Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom (SLAC) offers a world class cleanroom facility for developing, building, and environmentally testing lasers and electro-optics for space flight and other science applications. The just over 1500 sq ft clean room features unique electo-optical performance test equipment, flight compliant optical storage, bonding and kitting stations, and a thermal vacuum chamber.  The facility includes a precision cleaning room and a operations control center to support flight temperature cycle testing. Missions such as ICESAT-2, GEDI, and Mars Science Lab’s SAM instrument have successfully used the facility and is currently being used by the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer UV laser and the LISA missions

The photo shows one of the three cleanroom areas inside the Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom suite that can be used for assembly and testing of laser systems
One of the three cleanroom areas inside the Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom suite that can be used for assembly and testing of laser systems

The Space Laser Assembly Cleanroom is managed by ETD’s Instrument Systems and Technology Division (ISTD). Contact ISTD for more information.