A substrate processing apparatus includes a first chamber, a second chamber which
has a first valve, a second valve and a chuck, wherein a substrate is transferred
to the second chamber through the first valve, held by the chuck in the second
chamber, and then transferred to the first chamber through the second valve, a
pressure reduction section which reduces a pressure in the second chamber to a
predetermined pressure while the substrate is held by the chuck in the second chamber,
a thermoregulator which is arranged in the chuck and regulates a temperature of
the substrate held by the chuck to be a predetermined temperature, and a controller
which controls the pressure reduction section so as to make a relationship between
the pressure in the second chamber and a pressure reduction time in the second
chamber fall within a predetermined range, controls the chuck so as to make a suction
force for the substrate constant, and controls the thermoregulator so as to make
a temperature of the chuck constant.