ANALYTIC AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF SHADOW SHIELDS AND THEIR SUPPORT MEMBERS FOR THERMAL CONTROL OF SPACE VEHICLES

摘要

The thermal performance of shadow shields, and their support struts, for the thermal protection of cryogenic propellants in a simulated deep-space environment was investigated analytically and experimentally. Very low overall heat-transfer rates were obtained when highly reflective aluminized Mylar shadow shields were used. The thermal interactions between the shields and support struts were investigated with fair to good agreement between the analysis and experi¬mental data. The exterior surface of both fiberglass and titanium struts was coated to reduce the heat input into the test tank. The vacuum level inside the test facility strongly influenced the heat-transfer rates.