Analysis of Thermal Design and On-Orbit Performance of the Horizon Scanners of RADARSAT-1 2003-01-2641
Spacecraft attitude control provides the basic stability so that sensors, solar panels, antennas and other hardware are properly oriented to perform their functions. A Horizon scanner can automatically seek the earth horizon by detecting the sharp discontinuity in InfraRed intensity at the outer edge of the Earth's mesopause for purposes of a spacecraft's orientation and control.
As a satellite in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and three-axis stabilized, the Canadian satellite RADARSAT-1 is equipped with two horizon scanners (HS) in order to scan dynamically across the Earth's disc and to establish the attitude relative to the Earth. This paper discusses the thermal design and analyzes the on-orbit thermal performance of the HS.
Citation: Wang, G., Nikanpour, D., Deraspe, G., and Nappert, S., "Analysis of Thermal Design and On-Orbit Performance of the Horizon Scanners of RADARSAT-1," SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-2641, 2003, https://doi.org/10.4271/2003-01-2641. Download Citation
Author(s):
Guanghan Wang, Darius Nikanpour, Guy Deraspe, Stephane Nappert
Affiliated:
Advanced Materials & Thermal Group, Space Technologies, Canadian Space Agency, Space Operations, Canadian Space Agency
Pages: 10
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 2003 Transactions Journal of Aerospace-V112-1
Related Topics:
Attitude control
Spacecraft
Satellites
Sun and solar
Antennas
Hardware
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