OTS 2: Five years of thermal testing on a satellite in a geostationary orbit
Abstract
In flight degradation rates of OTS-2 optical solar of reflectors (OSR), multilayer insulation (MLI) and paint thermo-optical material properties were determined. Equinox data show a significant increase in temperature with time. This increase is nearing stabilization, and is related to degradation of the coatings on the surfaces rotating daily with respect to the Sun vector (white paint on antenna dishes, outer Kapton layer of MLI, and the spacecraft adapter and other appendages such as thrusters, IR sensors). For successive pairs of solstice seasons, the increases in temperature are larger than expected, and are a result of an increase in absorptance of the OSRs, but the exact reason is not yet known. It is most likely that it is caused by contamination at the beginning of the mission.
- Publication:
-
ESA Special Publication
- Pub Date:
- December 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983ESASP.200..425C
- Keywords:
-
- Multilayer Insulation;
- Ots (Esa);
- Paints;
- Solar Reflectors;
- Thermal Control Coatings;
- Absorptance;
- Kapton (Trademark);
- Technology Assessment;
- Temperature Control;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles