MIPT Launches Test Center for Small Spacecraft: Pioneering Reliability Testing in Outer Space

The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) has launched the first phase of a testing center dedicated to small satellites. The center’s equipment will enable tests to assess the resilience of space vehicles against external mechanical influences and the harsh conditions of outer space.

The new testing facilities at MIPT will be employed to evaluate the reliability of CubeSat-type devices, with form factors ranging from 1U to 16U, along with their components.

«Currently, our colleagues from the FACT School of MIPT are developing specialized onboard equipment and propulsion systems for nanosatellites. This testing center is essential for validating this equipment on Earth to ensure its reliability and functionality in orbit,» explained Vasily Voropaev, the lead engineer from the Laboratory of Onboard Systems for Spacecraft at MIPT.

The center is equipped with a vibration stand that simulates the loads encountered during the launch of equipment into orbit. The operational methodologies allow for the modeling of the satellite launch process using various Russian launch vehicles, including Soyuz and Rokot.

In the second quarter of 2025, a thermovacuum chamber designed to replicate space conditions will be inaugurated, along with a semi-natural modeling stand for testing orientation and navigation systems of small satellites. This will enable simulations of flight conditions on both the illuminated and shaded sides of the orbit, creating test environments that closely resemble actual space conditions.