A Space-Based Experiment to Evaluate Performance of Electrostatic Switched Radiator (ESR)

• Main Authors: Moghaddam, Saeed, Lawler, John, Currano, Joe, Kim, Jungho
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0094-243X
• DOI: 10.1063/1.2437442

This paper describes the design and ground testing of a test module prepared for evaluating the performance of an active emissivity surface in space. The test module will be incorporated into the MISSE-6 (Materials International Space Station Experiment) package, which will be deployed on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS). The test module combines an Electrostatic Switched Radiator (ESR), developed by Sensortex, Inc., along with a new emissivity measurement technique developed by ATEC, Inc. The ESR is an advanced spacecraft thermal control device that uses electrostatic hold-down of a high emissivity composite film to control radiator heat dissipation. The electrostatic hold-down switches the heat transfer mode of the radiator from conduction to radiation resulting in a large change in the radiator's effective emissivity. In order to measure the variable emissivity of the ESR, a heat flux sensor was incorporated into the ESR structure, which measures directly the heat flux passing through the ESR. This integration resulted in a fast response time sufficient to resolve the transient emissivity of the active surface as it changes states.