Porous Insulation Performance Under Martian Environment

Document Number: 932116

Date Published: July 1993

Author(s):
W. P. P. Fischer - DASA/ERNO
W. D. Ebeling - DASA/ERNO
B. Haase - DASA/ERNO
K. Keller - ESTEC

Abstract:
The future deployment of a network of measurement stations on the surface of Mars is presently prepared. The Mars environment is characterized by large daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations in low density atmosphere with carbon dioxide as its main constituents. Typical environmental conditions for some locations are presented.

Due to geometrical and mass constraints highly efficient and reliable thermal insulations are required for the thermal control of Mars stations which are powered by solar energy. ERNO has investigated the thermal performance of two candidate porous insulations in the frame of an ESTEC technology contract.

The paper presents methods to predict the heat transfer modes of both insulations in a Martian environment analytically. Experimental measurements have ben performed and evaluated in order to validate the analytical predictions.

Based on these results, the insulation design concept is reviewed. Some mechanical test results, representative of the landing loads are given in addition.

File Size: 1430K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at International Conference On Environmental Systems, July 1993, Colorado Springs, CO, USA, Session: International Conference On Environmental Systems

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