Vibration isolation system for testing in a vacuum

Abstract

The design, manufacture, and testing of an isolation system placed under a bench which simulates a space platform during testing in a hard vacuum are described. A low natural frequency isolation system is used to decouple ground vibrations from the bench. The materials used are vacuum compatible and do not introduce unwanted matter which would contaminate the payload optics and/or the testing environment. The system accommodates payloads of varying weights and envelopes.