EMSiL's Mars Chamber allows the inclusion of rocks and dusts while simulating the thermal, pressure, and gas composition of Mars.

Researchers use the large thermal chamber to measure the thermal expansion of candidate materials for space deployable structures.

A 1.5-meter ice column is being prepared for the testing of an icy drill concept.

JPL's Extraterrestrial Materials Simulation Laboratory (EMSiL) develops simulant materials and test environments for a wide variety of solar system settings and performs the testing in realistic environments with relevant materials, such as dusts, regolith and rocks. In its unique position to support in situ missions and technologies, the staff of EMSiL performs research to understand better the in situ surface and subsurface environments and to predict expected physical properties; develop, formulate, and test terrestrial analog materials that will match the properties expected in the planetary environments. Experiments and technology validation are performed in fully-instrumented environmental chambers in which planetary atmosphere, dust deposition, wind, temperature, and lighting conditions may be matched.
Other EMSiL capabilities include fabrication and processing methods to create materials with desired physical properties and composition, such as simulated Martian and Lunar regolith, permafrost and ices. The EMSiL capability includes producing and characterizing analog materials with microscopy and a variety of laboratory instruments. The EMSiL staff work with technology developers to test and validate instruments, sample acquisition and handling systems. Work performed in the EMSiL has influenced the design of the sample acquisition and handling hardware on the Phoenix Mars Scout and the Mars Science Laboratory missions.