The heat-pipe experiment on SPAS 01

The heat-pipe experiment conducted during the first flight of the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS 01) represents an investigation promoted jointly by the West German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology and the European Space Agency (ESA). The experiment involved the conduction of nine individual tests with gas-stabilized heat pipes, heat-pipe diodes, and 'artery' heat pipes. The experimental study of such components under conditions of weightlessness is necessary to optimize the design of heat pipes intended for applications in space and to provide a demonstration of heat-pipe performance. Details regarding the conduction of the experiment and its objectives are discussed along with questions of experimental design. Attention is given to the heating system, the data acquisition system, the thermal budget of the heat-pipe radiators, the integration and approval of the experiment, high-performance heat pipes, temperature-stabilized heat pipes, and the results of ground and flight tests.