METHOD TESTING VACUUM TIGHTNESS OF SYSTEMS OF SPACECRAFT Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: cosmonautics. SUBSTANCE: spacecraft with ampouled and non-ampouled systems is placed into vacuum chamber, vacuum chamber is pumped out to steady-state initial concentration α_o of testing gas corresponding to actual lack of tightness of ampouled system Q_amp, two calibrated gas flows with values Q_kt1= Q_amp.add and Q_kt2= 2Q_amp.add , where Q_amp.add is value of permissible lack of tightness of ampouled system are fed in turn into vacuum chamber. After supply of flow Q_kt1 value of steady-state concentration of testing gas α₁ corresponding to summary flow Q₁= Q_amp+Q_kt1 is measured. Then supply of flow Q_kt1 is stopped and vacuum chamber is pumped out to achieve concentration α_o of testing gas. After supply of flow Q_kt2 value of steady-state concentration α₂ of testing gas in vacuum chamber corresponding to summary flow Q₂= Q_amp+Q_kt2 is measured and value Q_amp is determined graphically by values α₀, α₁ and Q₁,α₂ and Q₂. Supply of flow Q_kt2 is stopped and vacuum chamber is pumped out till concentration of testing gas in it achieves α₀. Then vacuum tightness of other systems is tested. EFFECT: method makes it possible to prolong serviceability of ampouled systems present in mix of spacecraft. 1 dwg