MCS-A Thermal Control Subsystem

Chalmers, Dean; Stümpel, D.

doi:10.4271/820862

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Presented as Paper 83-1494 at the AIAA 18th Thermophysics Conference, Montreal, Canada, June 1- 3,1983; received Aug. 22, 1983; revision received Nov. 26,1983. Copyright © American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., 1984.…”

Section: Antennasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the in-orbit thermal performance of the Maritime Communication Satellite MCS-A

Chalmers¹

1985

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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The Maritime Communication Satellite MCS-A was successfully launched in December 1981 onboard ARIANE L04, and became fully operational in May 1982. Presented in this paper are details concerning the performance of the thermal control subsystem over the initial 18 months of the mission. The relevant telemetried data was processed to allow, using the thermal mathematical models as well as direct comparison methods, an evaluation of the in-orbit thermal behavior, and thus obtain an indication of how successfully the thermal control techniques and philosophy have performed. Particular attention was focused on the technologies flying for the first time on a European satellite, i.e., the heat-pipe radiator and automatic electronic heater switching. Valuable information has been obtained for future application, not only to MCS-A, but also for the family of the European Communication Satellite, of which MCS-A was the first.

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Section: Antennasmentioning

confidence: 99%