Alternative methods to reach given level of vacuum

[Jack1991]

I am currently collaborating in a student team to develop a CubeSat. One of the requirements provided by our launch contractor is to perform a bakeout test at system level. The given requirements for that tests are a duration of 24 hours, at a temperature of 50 degrees Celcius at a vacuum level of 10E-5 mbar.

Currently we are equipped with a thermal vacuum oven that can reach a vacuum level of 1 mbar. Therefore we are investigating alternative methods to reach the given requirements (if that is possible). One of the possibilities we thought of was to perform the test at 1 mbar and subsequently use nitrogen to purge the outgassed particles. I wonder whether this method is comparable to having a vacuum level of 10E-5 mbar without a final purge?

Else, are there any alternative methods to reach the same outgassing effects without going the given state of vacuum?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Navin A S]

Unfortunately, a nitrogen purge cannot be used to achieve the same outgassing effects as a vacuum level of 10E-5 mbar. A vacuum environment provides a much more effective means of removing outgassed particles from the CubeSat system. Other methods that may be effective at reducing outgassing include using a getter material (e.g. activated carbon) to absorb the outgassed particles, or using a bake-out oven with a higher vacuum capability (such as 10E-7 mbar).