A THERMAL VACUUM SPACESRAFT TEST: THE EXPERIENCE OF CREATING SOLAR SIMULATORS USING HIGH PRESSURE GAS-DISCHARGE LAMPS

Abstract

In this article we have considered a possibility to use the commercial XBO xenon lamps to create a source of radiation, integrated in solar simulators. We have conducted experimental studies of photonic lamp performance.

Full Text

One of the main stages of ground spacecraft testing is considered to be the thermal vacuum test. The tested object is a thermophysical spacecraft model of its elements. Instead of flight devices and blocks, the platform of the thermophysical model has its own thermal simulators – heater sections, simulating thermal dissipation during flight operations. The resistance sensors are installed in the model’s elements to read the temperature information during the thermal vacuum test (TVT). The purpose of the TVT is an experimental test of the thermal mode and thermal schemes of newly developed Mathematics, mechanics, computer science 72 external spacecraft elements, devices, and equipment during the injection simulation during orbital operations. There are some tasks that should be fulfilled during the test: verification of a mathematical conducted heat exchange model between the platform structure elements; verification that the temperature of the structural elements and devices meets the requirements for thermal control subsystem, as well as requirements for external elements when simulating extreme external and internal heat loads; determination of temperature fields by external structural elements of the articled parts; verification of sufficient electrical power for heat from external devices and articled equipment; development of recommendations, concerning the updating of technical documentation on heat schemes for the articled external elements.