>> THE SPACE STATION
AIRLOCK TEST ARTICLE
IS A HUMAN-RATED,
HIGH-FIDELITY
1G AIRLOCK FACILITY THAT
PROVIDES FLIGHTLIKE SIMULATION
OF AIRLOCK AND EVA OPERATIONS
IN PRESSURES RANGING
FROM VACUUM TO 1 ATMOSPHERE.
THE SSATA PROVIDES A FACILITY
FOR AIRLOCK AND EVA
HARDWARE TESTING,
VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION,
AND FLIGHT CREW TRAINING.
LIKE THE ACTUAL ISS AIRLOCK,
THE FACILITY CONTAINS
TWO CHAMBERS, THE EQUIPMENT LOCK
AND THE CREW LOCK,
WHICH ARE CONNECTED
BY A COMMON BULKHEAD.
ADJACENT TO THE CREW LOCK
IS A VACUUM PLENUM
SIMULATING SPACE VACUUM OUTSIDE
OF THE EXTERNAL HATCH.
THE SSATA CHAMBER IS OUTFITTED
WITH QUALIFICATION VERSIONS
OF THE SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE
CHECKOUT HARDWARE,
HARDWARE THAT INTERFACES
THE EMU TO THE AIRLOCK POWER
AND COOLING SYSTEMS.
THIS EQUIPMENT ADDS
THE FUNCTIONALITY AND REALISM
NEEDED TO PROVIDE
EVA CREW MEMBERS
WITH A MEANINGFUL
TRAINING EXPERIENCE.
THE CREW LOCK PROVIDES
AN EMU WEIGHT RELIEF SYSTEM
TO ACCOMMODATE 1G OPERATIONS.