High Temperature Emissivity Measurement System (HiTEMS)

The High Temperature Emissivity Measurement System (HiTEMS) is a ground test capability at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center enabling near normal and varied incident angle spectral and total emittance measurements. This data is gathered at vacuum levels as low as approximately 10-7 Torr within a temperature range of 600°C to approximately 2,600°C, providing essential material property data to assist with improved thermal control estimates for spacecraft hardware. Recent work focusing on the measurement of smooth and bead blasted tungsten samples in support of the Propulsion Research and Tech Branch at NASA MSFC provides a thorough examination into HiTEMS capabilities and insight into the variabilities related to sample roughness at extreme temperatures.