PROCEDURE TO TEST TIGHTNESS OF SPACECRAFT COMPARTMENT, GEAR FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND PROCESS TESTING GEAR FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROCEDURE TO TEST TIGHTNESS OF SPACECRAFT COMPARTMENT Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: space measurement technology. SUBSTANCE: invention can be used to test tightness of spacecraft and to search for location of leak in spacecraft compartments under actual conditions of its operation. Procedure includes test of pressure in compartment, pressurization of compartment with test gas and indication of test gas on outer surface of compartment of spacecraft. Inert gas with admixtures injected into it is utilized as test gas during pressurization of compartment and glow of test gas in locations of leaks under action of fluctuation of electric and magnetic fields and factors of surrounding space exciting glow in surface layer of own external atmosphere of spacecraft is employed for their indication on outer surface of compartment. Parameters of fluctuation of electric and magnetic fields and brightness of glow of test gas and locations of tightness disturbance are found by maximum fluctuation of parameters of electric and magnetic fields and by maximum brightness of glow of test gas. Process testing gear for implementation of procedure testing tightness of compartment direct aboard spacecraft under actual conditions of its operation surmises that ballast volume is formed in space of compartment which is filled with test gas under specified pressure and compartment is depressurized on purpose to conduct test of testing gear. Lock chamber of mating module of orbital station can be employed in the capacity of ballast volume. EFFECT: enhanced accuracy of test of tightness of spacecraft compartment under actual conditions. 6 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl