Hypobaric chamber for wind sensor testing in Martian conditions

In this paper we will describe the installation of a low pressure stainless steel horizontal chamber to be used in preliminary tests of a Mars atmosphere wind sensor. It includes custom made additional QF ports, electric and pneumatic interfaces together with a vacuum pump system. Absolute pressure, as a function of the pump operational time during the vacuum process and depressurization will be shown as a result of experimental measurements. We will propose the integration of a typical compact wind tunnel with interior of the vacuum chamber. We will also discuss the possibility of the reproduction the same Reynolds number conditions for a given low temperature of a pure carbon dioxide atmosphere just by fine adjustment of either air pressure or air velocity inside the chamber at typical laboratory temperature. Finally, we will recapitulate all pros and cons of this hypobaric chamber.