I assume the BBC paid a fee for the use of the facility. Maybe they piggybacked onto some testing or scheduled activities that were being done anyway. I'll be

I assume the BBC paid a fee for the use of the facility. Maybe they piggybacked onto some testing or scheduled activities that were being done anyway. I'll bet once the location scout saw those huge doors close, the deal was set. ;-) Similar large facilities exist at many national labs, and they are used only sporadically. For instance, in the Bay Area, NASA Ames has a very large (11 foot square) wind tunnel that can reach Mach 1.45 (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/orgs/aeronautics/windtunnels/11x11-wind-tunnel.html#.VFkZIkuYW9A http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/orgs/aeronautics/windtunnel...). The inflatable bags that landed Spirit and Opportunity on Mars were tested in Mars air pressure at the Glenn vacuum facility: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/history/marspbag_prt.htm http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/history/marspbag_prt... . Many spacecraft undergo "thermal vac" testing meant to simulate space conditions.