Environmental Monitoring and Lab System Development and Diagnostics of the Princeton Space Physics Lab

Abstract

The Princeton Space Physics Lab (PSPL) began construction in July 2020 with the goal of having a functional lab ready to begin building and testing the NASA SWAPI instrument October 2021. In order to prepare the lab for this instrument as well as all future experimentation, both hardware and software implementations were necessary to begin monitoring the PSPL main lab science chamber and other aspects of the lab system. To this end I have worked to develop software to interface with instruments and monitor the laboratory environments as well as inform researchers of the cleanliness or different areas in the lab. I have further developed tools to aide in consistent and fast communication between laboratory devices to help maintain connection between the many components of the lab being built out. I have created software to monitor lab safety in the Main Chamber keeping in mind the need for modular codes which can change and evolve with the lab. And I have helped to build and set up the lab's Bakeout Chamber and develop the laboratory monitoring capabilities for this new lab system. Overall I have developed and contributed tools and other useful applications to aid in the establishment of the PSPL.