An account is given of an experimental facility which has been designe
d specifically for the study of electrical insulation in a simulated s
pace environment. Insulation in space can experience a very wide range
of environmental stimuli and it is very difficult if not impossible t
o stimulate them all. Those that are considered in the present work ar
e vacuum, temperature, nuclear radiation and atomic oxygen. The facili
ty consists of a stainless steel high-vacuum chamber with a sample mou
nting arrangement which allows sample temperatures to be varied betwee
n 80 and 470 K. Test specimens can also be exposed to electromagnetic
radiation within the chamber. Atomic oxygen treatment of materials tak
es place before they are introduced to the chamber. The materials bein
g considered are Kapton and an epoxy resin formulation. Various electr
ical measurements are being undertaken and comprise primarily dielectr
ic loss by frequency domain spectroscopy and pre-breakdown current pul
se activity under direct stress, while the provision exists for conduc
tivity and breakdown measurements as well. These are made in real time
under vacuum, temperature and low dose rate electromagnetic radiation
Following an ageing procedure which involves combinations of these th
ree foregoing environmental stimuli and atomic oxygen.