Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Thermal analysis of spacecraft at Saturn have previously been restricted to three environmental heat fluxes: solar, Saturn planet IR, and Saturn planet albedo. Heat flux from Saturns rings were not available in any commercially available thermal analysis tools. While preparing for the Cassini Grand Finale, during which Cassini will travel extremely close to the rings of Saturn, it was determined the existing thermal model required updating to accurately predict heat fluxes from the rings. This is particularly important for Cassinis Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer infrared spectrometer (VIMS-IR), as it is cooled by a passive radiator which operates below the temperature of Saturns rings. This paper discusses the validation of the heat flux from solar, Saturn, and Saturns rings in Spacedesigns Thermal Synthesizer System (TSS). The incorporation of heating from Saturns rings also led to the use of SPICE geometry to ensure accurate spacecraft positioning and pointing. Thermal model results are compared against historical heating events as well as predictive Grand Finale sequences.
Keywords:
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration
Type:
JPL-CL-16-1771
,
International Conference on Environmental Systems; Jul 10, 2016 - Jul 14, 2016; Vienna; Austria
Format:
text
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