Diagram of the Large Space Simulator

The Large Space Simulator (LSS), located at ESA’s Test Centre in the Netherlands, is Europe’s largest vacuum chamber. It is used for the testing of spacecraft in a space-like environment, including vacuum and extreme temperatures, before they fly into orbit.

The facility is complex, and the current process of training a new operator is lengthy and complicated. To make it easier, the space simulator now has a digital twin – the most realistic virtual model of the facility yet, developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) by the Spanish engineering company Empresarios Agrupados.

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[Image description: This is a cross-section 3D rendering of the Large Space Simulator, showing different parts of the facility. At the centre is a large cylindrical chamber, which extends into a tunnel-like structure towards the left. Surrounding the chamber are blue structural supports and a network of pipes and ducts. The floor underneath is light blue. On the right side, enclosed control rooms with transparent walls are visible, with several individuals inside observing the operations.]