Publication Date:
2019-07-12
Description:
Potential problems for the Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) spacecraft design requirements and the operational considerations could arise because of the free surface configurations between liquid helium and helium vapor in the rotating dewar. This free surface is present in the partially filled liquid helium dewar. The liquid helium in the dewar is depleted as it is consumed as propellant for the spacecraft. In this study, the doughnut-shaped helium bubble equilibrium profiles in the rotating dewar have been numerically calculated. These calculations were performed under the conditions imposed during the period of the GP-B experiment instrument calibration (gyro spinup period) and also during the normal operational stages of the GP-B spacecraft.
Keywords:
ENGINEERING (GENERAL)
Type:
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets (ISSN 0022-4650); 26; 167-172
Format:
text
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