Comparison between Solar Simulation and Infrared Technique for Thermal Balance Test

The precision of heat flux simulation influences the temperature field and test aberration for TB test and also reflects the test level for spacecraft development. This paper describes TB tests for a small satellite using solar simulator, electric heaters, calrod heaters to evaluate the difference of the three methods. Under the same boundary condition, calrod heaters cases were about 6oC higher than solar simulator cases and electric heaters cases for non-external-heat-flux cases (extreme low temperature cases). While calrod heaters cases and electric heaters cases were 5~7oC and 2~3oC lower than solar simulator cases respectively for high temperature cases. The results show that the solar simulator is better than calrod heaters for its better collimation, non-homogeneity and stability.

Authors:

• Tao Tao
• Wang Jing
• Cao Zhisong
• Liu Yi
• Qie Dianfu

Keywords:

• solar simulation
• infrared simulation
• TB test
• TMM

References:

[1] Richard Eddy, "Design and Construction of the JPL SS15B Solar
simulator," JPL internal document, 1968.
[2] P.W. Brinkman, "Main Characteristics of The Large Space Simulator
(LSS) at ESA/ESTEC," 13th Space Simulation Conference.
[3] F. Muller-Stute, "Test Support Hardware for the ESTEC Large Space
Simulator (LSS)".
[4] R. Satish etc., "Preparations and performance of Large Space Simulation
Chamber (LSSC) during INSAT-2E solar simulation thermal balance and
thermal vacuum performance tests," 21th Space Simulation Conference.
[5] Kurt A. Beckel, "The two axis Motion Simulator for the Large Space
Simulator at ESTEC," 15th Space Simulation Conference.
[6] Dr. Holm Frey etc., "Possible Modifications of ESA-s Large Space
Simulator to Produce a 3-Meter Diameter Beam of 10 Solar Constant,"
2002.
[7] William. N. Breeden ð¿ etc., "Solar Thermal Vacuum Testing of The
MARS Global Surveyor Spacecraft," 19th Space Simulation Conference.
[8] William N. Breeden III, "Thermal Vacuum Testing of the Mars Surveyor
Program and Stardust Spacecraft," 20th Space Simulation Conference.
[9] Jacqueline C. Lyra, "The Mars Pathfinder System Level Solar Thermal
Vacuum Test," 1997.
[10] E. Sacchi, "An Overview of the Thermal Verification and Testing of
Integral and Artemis Satellites," 30th ICES.
[11] S. G. Price, "Polar Platform Service Module Thermal Balance Testing and
Correlation".
[12] H.R.D. Jones and N.C. Rowe, "Validation of infra-red test techniques
using solar simulation," in Proc. AIAA/AHS/ASEE Aerospace Design
Conference, Irvine, CA, 1993.
[13] Pietro Giordano, Giuseppe Andrina, Luca Cane, Bruno Panella, "Mercury
Thermal Testing with Use of IR Techniques," 2003.
[14] Giuseppe Andrina, Luca Cane, Bruno Panella, "Solar Simulation v/s IR
Techniques Applicability to Mercury/Bepicolombo Probes System
Thermal Test," in Proc. 4th International symposium on Environement
Test for Space Programmes, Liege Belgium, 2001.