ECLSS Human-rating Facility

Paragon’s state-of-the-art ECLSS Human-Rating Facility (EHF) allows component and subsystem testing at flight pressure in a safe and cost effective manner in a laboratory environment.

The EHF (patent pending):

• Increases safety through extensive integrated ECLSS testing that could
  not be conducted on the vehicle
• Allows FAA safety approval of an ECLS system before integration with the
  spacecraft
• Lowers ECLSS development cost and time
• Provides for testing of back-up ECLS systems under simulated flight
  conditions.

The unique facility simulates all ECLSS environmental interfaces, and allows testing of all failure modes and effects (including abort modes), along with the controlling software and recovery strategies.

The EHF includes a 180 cubic-foot vacuum chamber, capable of simulating cabin air pressures – and external pressures for venting – throughout any flight profile.

The chamber can test hardware in off-nominal scenarios that could not be performed in a flight vehicle, including full vacuum.

The EHF is also a training facility, allowing crew training to be conducted away from the flight vehicle, and in conditions more closely simulating the actual operating environment.