Leak testing of Chinese Space Laboratory hatch in a thermal vacuum environment

ABSTRACT: Chinese Space Laboratory (CSL) hatch successfully passed an extensive leak testing in a thermal vacuum environment. The testing was performed at China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) in the 2 meters diameter by 3 meters length “CMK2000” vacuum chamber. As the hatch was thermally cycled through its analytically predicted temperature extremes, a leak rate test was performed on all of the hatch seals using the helium mass spectrometer leak detectors. The test was part of the qualification program for the hatch used on the Manned Spaceships.