With all experiment tests now complete, the PolarNOx payload moves into the final stages before launch. 

It's time for vacuuming.

Savannah Church sterilizes the vacuum valve.
Savannah Church sterilizes the vacuum valve. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Savannah Church switch out the vacuum plates so the vacuum can be used on the experiment.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Savannah Church switch out the vacuum plates so the vacuum can be used on the experiment.Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

Vacuuming an experiment payload looks a little different than using your Dyson in the living room. 

The team utilizes an industrial vacuum connected to a nitrogen tank, which is then hooked up to a port on the side of the experiment payload. The vauum pumps nitrogen into the experiment, while taking out any trapped air. The pure nitrogen, as the name suggests, contains no floating air particles, no dust or dirt, therefore, creating a clean environment for the instrumentation.

It took a few rocket launches for Scott Bailey and his teams to add vacuuming as part of the rocket readiness schedule. Previous experiments have had issues with fogging or interference due to the floating particles while the payload is the freezing cold temperatures of the upper atmosphere.

Sowmya Muthurangan connects the vacuum hose to the nitrogen tank.
Sowmya Muthurangan connects the vacuum hose to the nitrogen tank. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Close up of the vacuum valve with well-wrapped stem to ensure a firm seal during active vacuuming.
Close up of the vacuum valve with well-wrapped stem to ensure a firm seal during active vacuuming. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and a NASA Wallops technician talk through how to attach the hose to the nitrogen tank and turn the tank on.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and a NASA Wallops technician talk through how to attach the hose to the nitrogen tank and turn the tank on. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
From left: Justin Carstens, Aklima Khatun, and Sowmya Muthurangan monitor the vacuum pump attached to the experiment.
From left: Justin Carstens, Aklima Khatun, and Sowmya Muthurangan monitor the vacuum pump attached to the experiment. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Justin Carstens holds the vacuum hose up to the experiment payload.
Justin Carstens holds the vacuum hose up to the experiment payload. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
Justin Carstens and Savannah Church work together to connect the hose to the experiment.
Justin Carstens and Savannah Church work together to connect the hose to the experiment. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.

Much like the experiment tests, there were complications with getting PolarNOx "pumped down," according to the research team.

Multiple layers of technology trying to talk to each other - what could go wrong?

From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Aklima Khatun work on the vacuum's data output, while Savannah Church and a NASA Wallops engineer look on.
From left: Sowmya Muthurangan and Aklima Khatun work on the vacuum's data output, while Savannah Church and a NASA Wallops engineer look on. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
From left: Justin Carstens works with the student team on vacuuming the experiment with nitrogen.
From left: Justin Carstens works with the student team on vacuuming the experiment with nitrogen. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.
The team vacuums the experiment with nitrogen to ensure a fully clean and sterile environment for the telescope and spectrograph inside the sealed payload.
The team vacuums the experiment with nitrogen to ensure a fully clean and sterile environment for the telescope and spectrograph inside the sealed payload. Photo by Niki Hazuda for Virginia Tech.