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

Abstract

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.