METHOD OF SIMULATION OF EXTERNAL HEAT FLOWS FOR GROUND OPTIMISATION OF SPACECRAFT TEMPERATURE CONTROL Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC B64G7/00 

FIELD: heating.

SUBSTANCE: prior to placing a spacecraft in a thermal vacuum chamber the cryogenic shields of the chamber are chilled and external heat flows affecting the spacecraft during a flight are simulated. Voltage is supplied alternately to each heating element of the simulator of the said flows and the power consumed at the element is constantly measured. Jumping increase of the consumed power in relation to the power in steady heating mode is fixed. Heating elements where such power jumps occur are rejected, afterwards the cryogenic shields are warmed, the vacuum chamber is depressurised and the rejected heating elements are replaced. Rejection and replacement of heating elements are repeated until all elements reach the steady heating mode. Then the spacecraft is put in the thermal vacuum chamber and the relevant tests are carried out.

EFFECT: improved accuracy of simulation of external heat flows at a spacecraft in order to ensure security and durability of the spacecraft in the course of operation.

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