Brief description of the INAF/IAPS facility. The IAPS-INAF plasma chamber is designed to reproduce a large volume of plasma with ionospheric parameters, for testing payloads envisioned to operate onboard LEO spacecrafts. A plasma beam (Ar + ) is accelerated within the chamber at a speed which simulates the relative velocity of the spacecraft w.r.t. the ionosphere (≈ 8km/s). Plasma density: ≈ – m -3. Electron temperature: ≈ 1000 – 3000 K. Neutral pressure ≈ 5∙10 -6 mbar (with plasma source in operation). Magnetic field: 0 – 1∙10 -4 T (directions parallel and orthogonal w.r.t. plasma beam). Plasma diagnostics based on Langmuir Probes and Ion Drift Meters). INAF PLASMA CHAMBER FACILITY 4.5 m WP Manager and Test conductorGiuliano VannaroniAssociato INAF-IAPS, Uninettuno Test conductorPiero DiegoAssociato INAF-IAPS, Università di Trento Responsible of FacilityElisabetta De AngelisINAF-IAPS Mechanical h/w designAlfredo MorbidiniINAF-IAPS 1.7 m

Refurbishment of Plasma Chamber Facility - 1 (June 2014 – 23 January 2015) completed Maintenance of vacuum system: service on Cryo-pump, Screw-line, Roots, Valves, etc.. Tests on plasma: gas flow control, plasma source, magnetic coils, s/w plasma diagnostics, etc.. Cryo/Chamber ValveHe gas - Compressor Plasma Source Power Supplies

Refurbishment of Plasma Chamber Facility - 2 (June 2014 – 23 January 2015) completed View of Plasma Chamber Facility Magnetic field coil system Axial 1m 3 Orthogonal 1m 3 Coil SensitivityMaximum field

Refurbishment of Plasma Chamber Facility - 3 (June 2014 – 23 January 2015) completed Test of s/w for real time analysis of plasma diagnostics, and data acquisition