UK testing facilities
Higgs Centre for Innovation Space Testing Facility
STFC / University of Edinburgh
Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Access: Yes
Testing capabilities
- Vibration
- Shock and impact
- Thermal vacuum
- Climatic and environmental exposure
- EMC and electrical interference
- RF, antennas and communications
- Functional and integrated-system testing
Services
Small-satellite, subsystem and component qualification/development testing: sine/random/shock vibration, EMC pre-compliance, thermal cycles, vacuum bakeout, cryostat/vacuum compatibility, functional RF/optical/SpaceWire testing.
Equipment
Environmental chamber -70°C to +180°C; vacuum bakeout oven 20°C above ambient to +220°C; cleanrooms Class 10,000/ISO 7 (STFC source also describes ISO 5–7 suite); historic centre leaflet states vibration sine/random 40 kN and shock 80 kN, functional RF testing to 26 GHz, and optical testing apertures 10 cm and 30 cm. Current page does not repeat every historical limit.
Standards
No test-lab accreditation stated. Cleanroom classes ISO 5–7/ISO 7 published; centre states testing can follow NASA/ESA/launch-provider requirements but no specific accreditation asserted.
Contact
Email: higgscentre@stfc.ukri.org; alternate: bic-higgscentre@stfc.ukri.org; Contact form: official Higgs Centre contact page; Address: Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, EH9 3HJ
Approximate location
EH9 3HJ · Postcode area location