HVI & SPE Laboratories

The Open University has a unique set of hypervelocity impact and extreme environment simulation facilities that can be used to simulate extreme shock, pressure, temperature and UV irradiation conditions. Discover below the different facilities available within our laboratories

We welcome all enquiries for conducting experiments in our laboratories, please Contact us!

All-Axis Light Gas Gun

Capable of simulating high-speed impacts, providing valuable insights into planetary collision phenomena.

George

Large Dirty Mars Chamber

Large, adaptable, environmental simulation chamber suitable for a wide range of scientific and engineering investigations, whether these be clean or a bit messy!

Edmund

Clean Cylindrical Chamber

A 'clean' controlled environment, with dedicated solar illumination, well-suited to instrument qualification and astrobiology experiments under extreme low pressures, low temperatures and UV conditions.

Baldrick

Large Clean Circular Chamber

A ‘clean’ flat-bottomed testbed for astrobiological exposure experiments to extreme environments, such as variable vacuum pressure, temperature and UV simulated environments.