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Thermal-distortion analysis of a spacecraft box truss in geostationary orbitThe Mission to Planet Earth enlists the use of a geostationary platform to support Earth science monitoring instruments. The strongback for a proposed geostationary platform is a deployable box truss that supports two large diameter passive microwave radiometer (PMR) and several other science instruments. A study was performed to estimate the north-south and east-west pointing errors at the mounting locations of the two PMRs due to on-orbit thermal distortions of the main truss. The baseline configuration indicated that the east-west pointing error greatly exceeded the required limits. Primary origins of the pointing errors were identified, and methods for their reduction were discussed. Thermal performance enhancements to the truss structure were modeled and analyzed, including state-of-the-art surface coatings and insulation techniques. Comparisons of the thermal enhancements to the baseline were performed. Results demonstrated that using a thermal enclosure insulating technique reduced external heat fluxes, and distributed those heat fluxes more evenly throughout the structure, sufficiently reducing the pointing error to satisfy pointing accuracy requirements for the PMR's.
Document ID
19910001728
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Cosgrove, Patrick A.
(Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. Hampton, VA., United States)
Farmer, Jeffery T.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Rowell, Lawrence F.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1990
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
L-16828
NASA-TP-3054
NAS 1.60:3054
Accession Number
91N11041
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 506-49-21-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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