Capabilities

GEER

NASA’s GEER test chamber can be customized for specific conditions or requirements. The facility has been upgraded to allow the transfer of power and data from a test article while under Venus surface conditions. The standard capabilities include:

• Dimensions: 3’ ID x 4’ L (internal) – volume: 811 L
• Pressure (operating): vacuum – 1365 psia (94 bar)
• Temperature (operating): ambient – 1000 °F (538 °C)
• Gases: 8 specialty gases + 1 liquid
  • Level of accuracy: OTOO ppb
• Power: now supported by a backup power system

The GEER chamber can achieve pressures from ambient to 1365 PSI, reach temperatures over 500C and precisely control gas composition for continuous periods of time exceeding several months.

• The End Cap weighs as much as a standard-size SUV
  • There is over 2 million pounds of force on the End Cap at our typical operating conditions
  • It takes 330 bolts to hold the End Cap on
• Has operated at Venus conditions for a total of 298.5 Earth Days as of Summer 2019
• GEER grows ½” longer and increases its volume by more than 19 L at typical test conditions
• We report our emissions to the EPA every year – our total yearly emissions fall under our daily emissions limit!!

Mini GEER

NASA Glenn Research Center also has a smaller test vessel that can simulate many of the same conditions as the larger GEER test facility – but allows a quicker turnaround and lower operating costs.

The capabilities of Mini GEER include:

• Dimensions: 5” ID x 12” L (internal) – initial volume: 4 L
• Pressure (operating): vacuum (rough) – 2706 psia (186 bar)
• Temperature (operating): ambient – 950 °F (510 °C)
• Gases: tri-gas (customizable pre-mix)
  • Currently only pre-mix, but is designed to tie into gas mixing infrastructure
• Advantageous for science experiments and material sample experiments – its size makes it more sensitive for analytics
• MiniGEER shares analytics infrastructure with GEER – GC & Mass Spec
• Shares Trained Personnel with GEER

Team Approach: Integrated, Multi-Disciplinary, & Experienced

GEER Test Ops Team Capabilities Highlights

• Custom test article support hardware design and fabrication
• Custom test process system design and fabrication
• Operational history with extreme environments – The GEER Team has accumulated over a Venus year simulating Venus Surface Conditions inside of GEER

Integrated, Multi-Disciplinary Expertise

• Local access to:
• Materials expertise
• Surface Science Analysis
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging
• X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) imaging
• Electron Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis
• Mass Spectrometry gas analysis expertise

Fun Fact

• GEER has produced over 42 published papers and counting (avg = 1 paper every other month for the past 6 years – except pandemic), many of which GRC authors and co-authors

We Seek to Serve: Supporting Missions & Multiple Communities

Test Article Categories

• Active: test articles that have data and/or power needs while testing inside of the GEER Vessel
• Passive: test articles that have material and/or component samples that are not powered and do not need data

Research Categories

• Fundamental Science (e.g. gas dynamics & property studies)
• Material Exposure (e.g. geology samples, basic materials, advanced materials, electronics, etc.)
• Technology Development (e.g. component and/or sub-system testing)
• Mission Risk Reduction (e.g. system testing)

Initiating Projects

• Contact the GEER PM or GEER FM

Versatility

Technology Development

• Feedthroughs – developed at GRC, data & power
• Extreme Environments Electronics – developed at GRC
• Chemical Sensors – industry partnership enabling in-situ chemical species measurements

Science Testing

• Ongoing materials studies (man-made and geologic)

Has enabled both the understanding of how geology may behave on Venus and which materials/designs may be best for a future lander

• Stratification Test

Objective was to determine whether CO2 and N2 may stratify in the lower Venusian atmosphere

Taught us a lot about the behavior of that mixture, and also about GEER operations

Mission Support

• Juno – active mission support

Ready & Up for Challenges

• Ready & Up for the Challenges – Our systems continue to mature and we’re always up for a challenge

What do the missions need?

What does the community need?

• Extensibility – GEER is constantly evolving to meet the needs of customers now and in the future through constant adaptation and upgrades:

Recent enhancements

• Passive sample prep station
• New Fume hood for sample preparations
• New Photo booth for documentation
• 4-Column GC

Planned enhancements (currently in progress)

• Automated GC sampling
• Upgraded Mass Spectrometer
• Increased Operations Training