Space, Fuel Tanks, and Optics: A look at EMA’s Testing Capabilities

Western Massachusetts has a long history of innovation, with William Stanley’s Electric Manufacturing Company producing the first electric transformer in Pittsfield back in 1891. Today, EMA is continuing that tradition.

EMA has developed a series of labs at our Pittsfield offices that can recreate the space environment, measure the impacts of lightning strikes, and more. Here is a look at some of the testing and measurement services that EMA offers and what we are working on for the future.

Fig. 1. Map of Pittsfield, Mass.

Space Environment and Radiation Effects

SERE is EMA’s Space Environment and Radiation Effects commercial test chamber. SERE specializes in in-situ charging studies of spacecraft components and instrumentation to help determine the risk level for various space environments. It features a 24″ sample plate inside the vacuum test chamber and radiation sources to realistic spectra associated with various orbits. Engineers can also use SERE to observe how equipment reacts in other high radiation environments.

Fig. 2. Images showing EMA’s Space Environment and Radiation Effects test chamber.

In early 2025, EMA will be adding a proton accelerating source to SERE. It will complement the current electron flood source, low plasma generator, and VUV Krypton arc lamp. By studying the behavior of protons at high speeds, scientists can gain insights into the structure of matter at the subatomic level. We expect to fully use this capability for testing before the end of the year.

EMA has also commissioned a new SR-90 source for high energy electron irradiation and aging studies on materials. Nuclear reactors, space vehicles, electron tubes, and remote weather stations contain Strontium-90, also known as SR-90. This feature is currently in development with hopes that it will be in full use at the end of 2026.

Fuel Tank Ignition Testing

EMA combines measurement and simulation to mitigate charges on fuel systems in vehicles.

The first step in the process includes building simulation models of fuel components in EMA’s software product Charge Plus. Charge Plus is the only commercial tool that solves discharges in air from first principles.

Second, the measurement process starts including determining material properties of the fuel lines and filters. After building the test setup, we apply a charge to determine locations that might cause coronas and/or arc. EMA does this by using a high voltage power supply attached to a static wick, seen in Figure 3.

Fig. 3. National ESD Test Setup

After completing the tests, we input the measurements into Charge Plus and complete the simulations. EMA will take the results from testing and simulation to determine necessary mitigations. EMA will implement solutions and conduct final testing to ensure accuracy and proper functioning.

You can complete this process in all vehicles, including cars, trucks, ATVs, and aerospace platforms. This testing is available now.

Laser-Induced Damage Threshold

Laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) is the maximum amount of laser radiation that an optical component can withstand before it is damaged. LIDT acts as a safety limit for high-power laser systems, ensuring components like lenses and mirrors operate reliably.

EMA is going through the regulatory process to use the laser source for LIDT testing. The laser source is a very powerful Q-Switched Nd: YAG laser. Currently, engineering is being done in the lab to use the laser safely and also to integrate all the required components to properly provide LIDT measurements.

The goal is to have this in operation by the end of 2026.

Transmission and Reflectance

EMA is also working on equipment to complete transmission and reflectance measurements of materials and optics. Right now, there are spectrometers in the lab that can do some transmission and reflectance measurements, but the capabilities are not operational yet. Engineers are going through the steps to get the processes in place for the correct characterization and use of equipment.

This is just one of the measurements that EMA will be able to complete thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Collaborative (MassTech). MassTech awarded $5 million to EMA and the University of Massachusetts Amherst to boost advanced optics technology design and production. These tests help scientists and engineers understand and characterize lenses.

UV Aging

Sunlight washes out plastics, sometimes turning them yellow after exposure. EMA is working on characterizing a system to accelerate UV aging of materials. This system will produce results in several weeks instead of several months.

The UV aging will accompany our other space radiation testing capabilities. In the case of insulators, exposure to UV radiation can cause them to become more susceptible to dielectric breakdown leading to possible failures. This gives designers a better understanding of how other parts of the aircraft will be affected by the aging of materials to create reliability predictions.

This system is expected to be available within the next year.

Additional Material Measurements

EMA also has a suite of other material measurements in the works, including:

• Constant Voltage Chamber (CVC): This will allow staff to take dielectric property measurements of materials, specifically the bulk conductivity.
• Secondary Electron Yield (SEY): Developments are continuing on this system with measurements for conductive materials are almost ready. The goal is to do photo yield measurements and measurements on insulators in the coming year.
• Permittivity measurements: EMA is currently in the acquisition stage.

Learn More

EMA continues to be a part of growing technology in Pittsfield. Our testing capabilities offer businesses the best opportunity for growth and development. To learn more about what we can do for you, reach out by clicking here.