What materials are used for thermal control on DS1?
Many different materials are used for thermal regulation on DS1. The purpose of the thermal control materials is to maintain the electronics and mechanical moving parts of a spacecraft within the design limits of the temperature range that will allow them to function normally. The following is a detailed description of three kinds of thermal regulating materials. All three of the examples are used in passive thermal control systems. However, the radiator material is so effective that an active heater is used to heat the radiator so as to stop cooling the spacecraft when necessary. It is important to realize that a spacecraft absorbs the Sun’s radiation, which is predominantly in the optical wavelengths (400 to >700 nm), and radiates heat at infrared wavelengths (the heat spectrum: >800 nm). The absorbance and emittance performed by the thermal control materials are somewhat wavelength-sensitive and the component materials are selected to be optimum for their particular application. 1.
