Thermal control materials in Mercury environment
Abstract
Thermal control materials are under development concerning the BepiColombo mission to the planet Mercury. The vicinity to the sun creates extreme heat and radiation fluxes and, advanced materials are needed. A Multi-Layer Insulation has been developed able to withstand the high temperatures and particle fluxes. Upilex has been preferred to Kapton for the reflective screens of the MLI and Tissue Glass is used as a spacer. On sunlit surfaces a sun shield will be added to the MLI employing a ceramic fabric. Further developments for application on external surfaces are a Solar Reflector Coating and an Optical Surface Reflector. An Infrared Rejection Device will be applied within the entrance port of nadir pointing instruments and serve as a protective element to reflect or absorb the planetary infra-red radiation. This paper presents the current status in the development of the thermal insulation and the other thermal control materials. The materials selection and available test results are presented.
- Publication:
-
Materials in a Space Environment
- Pub Date:
- September 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003ESASP.540..169A
- Keywords:
-
- Space Environment;
- Materials