Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets commonly employed for temperature control of spacecraft propellant lines consistently show large variances in their effective emittances. These variances are primarily due to workmanship, hence are hard to control or predict. Unfortunately, the variances are also the primary drivers of propellant line temperatures, thus leading to large predicted temperature uncertainties and increased risks to the success of space missions. JPL has gained significant knowledge of these variances from Mars spacecraft designs over more than two decades. This knowledge has led to improved analytical approaches to bound existing designs, emphasis on increased temperature visibility for design verification and model correlation, as well as methods for improving the robustness of propellant line thermal designs.
MLI Blanket Effective Emittance Variance and Its Effect on Spacecraft Propellant Line Thermal Control
International Conference on Environmental Systems ; 2016 ; Vienna, Austria
2016-07-10
Conference paper
No indication
English
Electrochromic Emittance Modulation Devices for Spacecraft Thermal Control
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000
|Electrochromic emittance modulation devices for spacecraft thermal control
American Institute of Physics | 2000
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