Method of simulating external thermal fluxes absorbed by external radiating components of a spacecraft in flight, and spacecraft for implementing the method
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorFrancis Arbusti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
During a thermal equilibrium test, the heating of components of a spacecraft such as a satellite by albedo, terrestrial infrared and solar thermal fluxes is simulated by placing the craft directly in a vacuum chamber whose walls are cooled to a low temperature to represent the space environment. The simulation is effected by heating devices integrated between the panels forming the external structure of the spacecraft and external radiating components opposite the equipment units which dissipate heat. The heating devices, which are preferably electrical devices, remain in place on the spacecraft in flight.
Claims8
A method of simulating external thermal fluxes absorbed by at least one external radiating component of a spacecraft in flight, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) integrating heating means between said external radiating component and a panel of an external structure of the spacecraft, wherein said heating means are connected to an external power supply;
- (B) operating the heating means to simulate said external thermal fluxes;
- and
- (C) disconnecting the heating means from the external power supply and leaving the heating means in place between said external radiating component and a panel, when simulation of the external thermal fluxes is completed.
A spacecraft comprising:
- at least one panel forming part of an external structure of said spacecraft;
- at least one external radiating component disposed on an external face of said panel;
- heating means permanently integrated between said external radiating component and said panel, said heating means being operable to simulate external thermal fluxes absorbed by said external radiating component in flight and comprising elements which do not modify emissivity and reflection properties of said external radiating component so that said heating means is left in place between said external radiating component and said panel when simulation of the external thermal fluxes is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.