Test Facility
The test facility is provided at RAL who lead the instrument AIV. The Test facility simulates the space environment so that as far as possible we can test the MIRI before launch. It cools the instrument to its operating termperatue of 7k.
Vibration tests are carried out in addition to cooldown tests, this simulates the conditions for shuttle take off. Below is a picture of a Grating Wheel under going a vibration test.
The test facility also uses a 'telescope simulatr' provided by INTA which simulates the JWST image quality and allows us to ensure that the optics is work as expected.