Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a chamber, having an interior maintained at a predetermined pressure, a rotor rotatably disposed within the interior of the chamber, and a sensor disposed within the interior of the chamber. When the rotor rotates, the at least one sensor measures a testing characteristic of an object disposed within the interior of the chamber as the object interacts with the rotating rotor. A method includes setting a predetermined pressure of a chamber, rotating a rotor, and maintaining a gap between a surface of an object to be tested and a surface of the rotor by adjusting, with an actuator, the object to be tested or the rotor based upon a change, as measured by a laser, in the dimension of the object to be tested or the rotor.

Abstract: An adjustable variable atmospheric condition testing apparatus for testing an object includes an outer chamber, an inner chamber positioned inside and in fluid communication with the outer chamber, a vacuum pump configured to remove gas from the inner and outer chambers, and further configured to expel the removed gas via an exhaust, an intake configured to selectively introduce gas from ambient into the inner chamber via a valve, such that the introduced gas interacts with the object, and a sensor positioned downstream of the object and configured to detect a characteristic of the gas interacting with the object.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure and a communication network that monitors and collects a plurality of operation parameters from the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure to control deployment of the deployable decelerator based on a plurality of predetermined triggering events.

Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a chamber, having an interior maintained at a predetermined pressure, a rotor rotatably disposed within the interior of the chamber, and a sensor disposed within the interior of the chamber. When the rotor rotates, the at least one sensor measures a testing characteristic of an object disposed within the interior of the chamber as the object interacts with the rotating rotor. A method includes setting a predetermined pressure of a chamber, rotating a rotor, and maintaining a gap between a surface of an object to be tested and a surface of the rotor by adjusting, with an actuator, the object to be tested or the rotor based upon a change, as measured by a laser, in the dimension of the object to be tested or the rotor.

Abstract: An adjustable variable atmospheric condition testing apparatus for testing an object includes an outer chamber, an inner chamber positioned inside and in fluid communication with the outer chamber, a vacuum pump configured to remove gas from the inner and outer chambers, and further configured to expel the removed gas via an exhaust, an intake configured to selectively introduce gas from ambient into the inner chamber via a valve, such that the introduced gas interacts with the object, and a sensor positioned downstream of the object and configured to detect a characteristic of the gas interacting with the object.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure and a communication network that monitors and collects a plurality of operation parameters from the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure to control deployment of the deployable decelerator based on a plurality of predetermined triggering events.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure. When the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.

Abstract: A transport vehicle for traveling in a low-pressure environment structure is provided. The transport vehicle may include a deployable decelerator provided on the transport vehicle and configured to deploy from the transport vehicle to decrease a distance between the transport vehicle and the low-pressure environment structure. When the decelerator is deployed the decelerator is configured to increase drag forces opposing a direction of motion of the transport vehicle and decelerate the transport vehicle.