Thermal balance qualification testing of the thermal control system of the Faint Object Camera
Abstract
The stringent image stability requirements (better than 6.5 microns) on the Faint Object Camera (FOC) on the Space Telescope necessitate an active thermal control system to provide for the stability of the optical bench, optical heads and detector head unit during data acquisition. The paper presents results of the thermal performance testing of the FOC thermal control system under simulated flight conditions. The Structure Thermal Module of the FOC, which includes an arrangement of computer-controlled heaters, multi-layer insulation and radiators to provide for thermal stability, was tested in environments corresponding to transient initial deployment without power, steady-state operation in a fixed power mode, a cold hold mode, warm-up from hold to cold operation, transition from cold to intermediate operation, and hot operation. Measurements of image displacement and temperature variations demonstrate that the control system can easily achieve the specified image stability, long-term temperature stability at 17 + or - 2 C, and short-term temperature stability to within less than 0.25 C.
- Publication:
-
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Conference
- Pub Date:
- June 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982aiaa.conf.....J
- Keywords:
-
- Faint Object Camera;
- Image Resolution;
- Temperature Control;
- Thermal Environments;
- Thermal Stability;
- Flight Simulation;
- Heating Equipment;
- Hubble Space Telescope;
- Optical Equipment;
- Space Environment Simulation;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation