Testing at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths requires care and experience to obtain meaningful results. Laboratory measurements by major research institutions are often found to be erroneous by factors of two. The Rutgers Test Facility was established by NASA to provide high quality vacuum UV testing for researchers from around the country who are developing UV image sensors.

The laboratory consists of 900 square feet, housing 8 separate, custom designed vacuum chambers that range in size from 5 inches to 5 feet in diameter. These chambers are specifically optimized to measure a number of detector performance parameters. Auxiliary equipment include in-air test apparatus, sophisticated diagnostic electronics, vibration isolation tables, ESD stations, and environmentally controlled storage.