Alta operates one of the largest arrays of privately owned and commercially operated space test facilities in Europe. This includes one of Europe’s largest space simulators: the 200 m3 IV10 advanced vacuum chamber with the world highest performing pump system. The size and performance of IV10 facilitate complete end-to-end propulsion tests on medium to large thrusters, in vacuum down to one billionth of a millibar. This is comparable to the vacuum level which is found in the near-Earth space. “Only with this type of simulator test facility it is possible to test the cluster of ion thrusters which will provide the propulsion for the Bepi Colombo spacecraft on its way to Mercury,” says Ugo Cesari, test facilities manager at Alta.