UK testing facilities
National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF)
STFC RAL Space / UK Space Agency
Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, England
Access: Yes
Testing capabilities
- Vibration
- Shock and impact
- Acoustic
- Thermal vacuum
- EMC and electrical interference
Services
Payload and satellite-level environmental, physical-properties and calibration testing for nanosats/CubeSats through large spacecraft; acoustic launch simulation; vibration and shock/dynamics testing; EMC; large vacuum/thermal-vacuum testing; mass properties; satellite preparation and integration.
Equipment
Facility profile specifies 200 m² ISO class 6 cleanroom and ISO class 8 cleanroom for satellite preparation. Current RAL Space source states NSTF supports spacecraft up to 7,000 kg; 2020/2024 sources describe a 16 m long large space test chamber and temperatures around -180°C to +100°C. NSTF EMC and chamber dimensions/frequency details are published on subfacility pages but are consolidated here at site level.
Standards
No facility accreditation stated on cited pages. ISO class 6/8 cleanroom classifications published.
Contact
Organisation-wide contact: Email: ralspaceenquiries@stfc.ac.uk; Phone: +44 1235445000
Approximate location
Harwell · Town location