Abstract This work focuses on the thermo-mechanical design of the microbalance used for the VISTA (Volatile In Situ Thermogravimetry Analyzer) sensor. VISTA has been designed to operate in situ in different space environments (asteroids, Mars, icy satellites). In this paper we focus on its application on Mars, where the expected environmental conditions are the most challenging for the thermo-mechanical design. The microbalance holding system has been designed to ensure piezoelectric crystal integrity against the high vibration levels during launch and landing and to cope with the unavoidable thermo-elastic differential displacements due to CTE and temperature differences between the microbalance elements. The crystal holding system, based on three symmetrical titanium supports, provides also the electrical connections needed for crystal actuation, microbalance heating and temperature measurement on the electrode area. On the microbalance crystal surfaces the electrodes, a micro film heater (optimized to perform thermo-gravimetric analysis up to 400°C) and a resistive thermometer are deposited through a vacuum sputtering process. A mockup of the system has been manufactured and tested at the expected vibration levels and the thermal control effectiveness has been verified in thermo-vacuum environment.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Thermo-mechanical design and testing of a microbalance for space applications



    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 54 , 11 ; 2386-2397


    Publication date :

    2014-08-26


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    High performance thermo-mechanical joint for space applications

    Cordisco, F.A / Antico, F. / Dri, F. et al. | AIAA | 2012


    HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMO-MECHANICAL JOINT FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

    Cordisco, F.A. / Antico, F.C. / Dri, F.L. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2012


    Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue Testing of Welded Tubes for Exhaust Applications

    Quan, Guangchun / Lafleur, Luc / Wu, Xijia et al. | SAE Technical Papers | 2018


    Microbalance

    L. O. Heflinger / R. F. Wuerker | NTIS | 1967