Design and Manufacture of a Cleanroom for the Integration and Testing of Space Flight Hardware

Background
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Space Science Division (NLR-SSD) conducts research in astronomy, astrophysics, solar-terrestrial physics, and atmospheric science to improve environments for Navy and Department of Defense applications.

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy’s corporate laboratory for basic and applied research in space sciences. This contract aims to install a cleanroom integrated with a laser alignment system for the characterization and testing of space-flight hardware.

Work Details
The project involves the design, manufacture, and installation of a state-of-the-art Flight Optics Test Evaluation and Characterization (FOTEC) cleanroom. Key tasks include:
- Overhauling and upgrading laboratory module B209 rm 123A into a cleanroom that meets ISO 7 standards during operation.
- Installing an integrated laser alignment system within the cleanroom.
- Ensuring the facility includes capabilities for Class IV lasers and black-out conditions for testing high sensitivity detectors.
- Furnishing specialized optical equipment such as integrating spheres, optical benches, diffusing screens, monochromators, VUV light sources, laser tracker alignment systems (Leica AT960), and theodolites (Leica TM6100A).
- Providing documentation including material lists, equipment layouts, drawings, design specifications, operation manuals, maintenance manuals, and as-built drawings at project completion.
- Complying with environmental management systems and ensuring materials used do not out-gas VOCs or hydrocarbons.

Place of Performance
The cleanroom will be located within Room 123A, Building 209 at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC.