Laboratory services

 The laboratory complex of Tartu Observatory in Tõravere, Estonia offers laboratory services in following fields:

The laboratories include special electrostatic discharge (ESD) safe areas, cleanroom (Class 8, ISO 14644-1) and anechoic environment. All laboratories include automatic control for ambient temperature and humidity conditions.

Contracting info you will find here.

Your reliable partner in calibration and testing.
Contacts

Laboratories of Tartu Observatory
Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere, EE-61602 Tartumaa, Estonia
Phone: +372 696 2511, e-mail: labs [a] to.ee

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Modern laboratories for space technology, calibration and testing


Space technology

The laboratory for development of space technology provides services for designing, assembling, prototyping as well as testing a wide range of different equipment. That includes electronic boards, controllers, radio transmitters, receivers, cameras etc. The available tools involve Altium Designer, Labview, soldering stations and microscopes. The first Estonian nanosatellite ESTCube-1, launched successfully in 2013, was designed and constructed in the laboratories of Tartu Observatory. In cooperation with several universities and research institutes, we can provide in orbit space technology validation service on nanosattelites as a part of our upcoming future missions.

Ground Station for Satellite Communication

During year 2013 a dedicated satellite communication ground station was established. Two different antenna systems have been installed on the roof of the main building: one 3.0 m diameter parabolic dish antenna and a yagi antenna array for 145 MHz and 435 MHz frequency ranges. Both antenna systems include computer controlled rotators capable of tracking low earth orbiting satellites and other space objects. The receiving station is based on a solid state high performance software controlled radio (SDR) technology. The ground station is currently used for receiving telemetry data from ESTCube-1 student satellite. Soon the transmitting capability will be implemented. The ground station equipment can be used also for educational and research purposes. 


Environmental testing

Laboratories for environmental testing include test stations for climatic conditions (temperature and humidity), sinusoidal and random vibration, thermal vacuum, and electromagnetic compatibility in an anechoic chamber.


Climatic conditions

  • Climatic chamber
  • Test space 400 mm × 470 mm × 345 mm
  • Temperature (-40…+150) °C
  • Humidity (30…90)% 

 


Vibration

  • Sinusoidal (5…4000) Hz
  • Max acceleration 720 m/s2, (73 g)
  • Max force 1,5 kN
  • Random (5…4000) Hz
  • Max acceleration 480 m/s2, (50 g)
  • Max force 1 kN

The figures are depending on load.

 


Thermal vacuum

  • Chamber volume 220 L
  • Inner diameter 651 mm
  • Inner length 650 mm
  • Lowest pressure 5×10-7 hPa
  • Adjustable temperature range (-40…+250) °C

 

Šokitest laborites

Mechanical Shock

  • High impact shock
  • Shock Response Spectrum (SRS)
  • Frequency range 1 Hz ... 10 kHz
  • Acceleration up to 98 km/s2 (10 000 g)


Electromagnetic compatibility

The anechoic chamber located at the laboratories of Tartu Observatory is based on Frankonia Ultra Compact Chamber with ferrite absorbers on all walls and additional hybrid absorbers on one of the walls. The chamber is suitable for RF immunity and pre-compliance measurements according to the standard IEC/EN 61000-4-3.


  • Dimensions of the test space 4 m × 3 m × 2,5 m
  • Frequency range 30 MHz…18 GHz
  • Distance from the test object 1 m
  • Size of uniform field area 0.5 m x 0,5 m

 

 


Optical measurements

The laboratories for optical measurements are located in the cleanroom environment (Class 8, ISO 14644-1).


Spectral responsivity of radiometric sensors

  • Irradiance and radiance in the wavelength range (340…1500) nm
  • Angular responsivity
  • Uniformity of the flat-field view
  • Inherent stray light effects
  • Temperature effects

 


Calibration and characterization of light sources

  • Spectral irradiance and radiance
    in the wavelength range (340…1500) nm
  • Optical power 5 µW…100 mW
    in the wavelength range (250…3000) nm

 


Characterization of materials

  • Reflectance and transmittance
    in the wavelength range (340…1500) nm
  • Ultraviolet (UV) durability tests

 


Ground support for remote sensing measurements

  • 10 m x 10 m reference panel with removable roof in the vicinity of forest remote sensing test site for calibration of airborne and high resolution spaceborne remote sensing spectral sensors.

 

 



 Your reliable partner in calibration and testing.

 Contacts

Testing and Calibration Laboratories
Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere
EE-61602 Tartumaa, ESTONIA

Phone: +372 696 2511
E-mail: labs@to.ee