IDEA #9YZYDB Space Environment Simulator

AEROSPACE SPACE ENVIRONMENT SIMULATOR Description Cryogenic and aerospace equipment is exploited in compli$ cated and unfavorable environmental conditions caused by Solar irradiation, high$power flux of corpuscular irradiation from radiation belts of Earth, vacuum, zero$gravity, low temperatures, significant cyclic gradient thermal loading, notable static, dynamic and reciprocal cyclic loadings, vibra$ tion etc. Each of the mentioned factors influences alteration of mechanical, optical, electric, thermo$physical, tribotech$ nical and other properties of materials used in the equipment, whereas cumulative impact of all these factors is not additive. Today, therefore, the main tasks of cryogenic and aero$ space materials science are: determination of serviceabil$ity, reliability and lifetime of existing materials as well ascrea$ tion of novel materials with enhanced characteristics. Such factors as non$uniformity of in$flight heating of different portions of Space vehicle (SV), time$dependent alteration of adsorption coefficients and degree of darkness for outer surfaces of SV, with account of inner energy dissipation – require special and sometimes very intricate experimental studies. It is expedient that the experiments are run at on$ ground elaboration of spacecraft and involve special facili$ ties simulating Space environment conditions. In order to solve the abovementioned problems, experts of Special Research and Development Bureau (CRDB) for Cryogenic Technologies of B. Verkin Institute for Low Tem$ perature Physics and Engineering at National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (SRDB) have elaborated methods, equipment and technologies for creation of special$purpose simulators series . Specialists of the SRDB have a great experience in development of simulation equipment. Earlier they built more than 10 complete sets of Simulators (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) for commercial purposes, as well as for researches in the field of materials science and SV testing in Germany, China, for National Space Agency of Ukraine, "Yuzhnoye" Design Bureau, Ukraine, etc. Fig. 1. The complex outerMSpace environmental factors simulaM tion unit 74 Fig. 2. General view of the standMfacility for thermoMvacuum testing of SpaceMvehicles Personnel of the SRDB includes, particularly, a team of experts capable of solving a wide range of materials scien$ ce tasks, specialists in the area of design and technology en$ gineering, a group of young scientists and experts. Innovative Aspect and Main Advantages We are seeking collaboration for development of a cooling machine which would be installed in the cooling equipment of Simulators. Such modification of Simulators would allow to use them without cryogenic liquid and to expand, the$ refore, application in the aerospace industry. Areas of Application The complex simulation equipment is intended for simula$ tion of space vacuum, cold Space environment, fluxes of protons and electrons, electromagnetic radiation by the Sun and Earth, and Earth$albedo with the purpose to study the influence of these factors on thermal regime of hardware and instruments of SV, as well as to determine serviceability, reliability and lifetime of cryogenic and other materials used in aerospace. Stage of Development Patented (Ukraine Patent 52338, "Cryogenic$vacuum camera") and already on the market. Contact Details Special Research and Development Bureau of Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of National Aca$ demy Science of Ukraine 47 Lenin ave, 61103, Kharkov, Ukraine Director of the Institute: Pokhyl Yuriy Anisimovich Tel.: 38 057$340$22$93 Fax: 38 0572$340$12$92 EMmail: Mail@Cryocosmos.com SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. № 4, 2006