Fabrication and Instrumentation of an Experimental Passive Radiative Infrared Detector Cooler for Spacecraft Applications.
Abstract
A thermal experimental model of a passive radiative cooler for use on an earth orbiting spacecraft was fabricated, assembled, and tested in a thermal vacuum environment. The design of the cooler was based on the results of a previous thermal analysis and design study performed by Philco-Ford for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The cooler was assumed to be used on a spacecraft in a 200 nautical mile altitude earth orbit in the plane of the ecliptic. The objective of the program was to verify the thermal performance of the cooler. Thermal analysis predicted an orbital temperature of 146 R for the radiator of the cooler. The tests produced higher than predicted temperatures for the radiator. Depending on the test conditions, a temperature of 246 R to 200R was achieved for the radiator. The primary reasons for the higher than predicted temperatures were identified as higher than predicted thermal conductances between the simulated spacecraft and the cooler shield and radiator surfaces. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0893616
Entities
People
- Carl A. Zierman
- Harold L. Hillesland
- Werner F. Schmidt