The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) received its system level thermal testing in a solar simulator in September and October 1982 and was launched in January 1983. In order to reduce costs and meet a tight launch schedule, a system thermal test approach was employed which combined the goals of thermal design development tests, thermal balance tests, and thermal vacuum qualification tests. This approach relied heavily on the use of a computer-controlled automatic data handling and heater control system which reduced reliance on human monitoring of test data in comparison to past projects. The validity of this approach has been borne out by flight results. During the whole mission most temperatures were within the desired range and close to predictions. Included under the external thermal subsystem are room temperature electronics and radiatively cooled surfaces with temperatures below 100 and 200K.
System test and flight results from infrared astronomical satellite external thermal subsystem
1985-04-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Infrared astronomical satellite
Tema Archive | 1977
|Infrared Astronomical Satellite: AKARI
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006
|Large Astronomical Satellite in-Flight Focusing
NTIS | 1965
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