Questions tagged [thermal]
How heat affects spacecraft and space missions, or materials and methods to deal with heat.
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How much does the ISS "banana" or flex under the constantly changing conditions of solar heating?
This answer to Do antennae on the ISS have to constantly move to maintain data links? discusses some of the challenges precisely pointing an antenna mounted to the ISS exterior. While the ISSs orbit ...
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Is thermal soakback from the engine a problem for rocket stages? Especially ones that complete several burns over several hours (e.g. S-IVB, Centaur)?
Thermal soakback is a phenomenon whereby a hot, operating engine transfers heat into the spacecraft, usually conduction through the engine mounts. I've only ever seen this problem discussed with RCS ...
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Is Perseverance's heat shield's thickness radially symmetric?
I came across this video1 about the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, especially the atmospheric entry phase.
It says between about 03:50 and ...
user19132
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How does ECOSTRESS measure both temperature and emissivity of the Earth's surface simultaneously? (Science package aboard the ISS)
The This Week at NASA video A U.S. Commercial Spacecraft Departs the Space Station on This Week @NASA – July 2, 2021 includes the following quote:
Data from NASA’s Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal ...
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Is Geothermal Cooling on Venus Possible?
Would geothermal type cooling be possible for a stationary base on the surface of Venus?
Would the subsoil temperature of Venus hotter or cooler than the atmospheric temperature? (464C / 867F average ...
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Understanding the basics of spacecraft thermal control systems
I have a broad understanding that in spacecraft cooling systems where a circulating liquid is used, a first coolant usually runs through the spacecraft and collects heat and then passes through a heat ...
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Methane or LOX tank at Boca Chica
As we can see on this picture from Mary "@bocachicagal" on NASASpaceFlight, there are two types of tank near the test stand.
Some are black and others are white or bright and shiny metal, ...
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Has the monthly average skin temp of the ISS increased during its years in orbit?
Is there a source of monthly average sun-side maximum temperatures during its (ISS) years in orbit?
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Why doesn't a regeneratively cooled engine crack due to differential expansion induced by thermal gradients?
A liquid rocket engine with regeneratively cooled chamber walls and nozzles would definitely be one among those components experiencing the steepest thermal gradients (Chamber wall inner - $3000 K$ ...
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Likely explanation for the bottom of the SLS rocket being covered with reflective silver "muffler" tape?
NASA.gov's First Artemis Rocket Stage Moved onto NASA Barge Ahead of Green Run contains a high resolution image of the rocket. The bottom end of the rocket's cylindrical shape is closed flat and ...
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What is a current/good Mass Estimating Equation/Heuristic for space radiators/heating systems?
Has anyone does any analysis for thermal control systems for manned space habitats? I know Gilmore has data for unmanned systems, but I was looking for data for unmanned systems, preferably to develop ...
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What is the white felt-like material between the heat shield tiles and stainless steel skin of Starship likely to be?
I suspect that the white padding material between the tile and the stainless steel skin might be [Nomex Felt][1], but I don't really know. Nomex was used on the Space Shuttle.
Flame-Resistant Felt - ...
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Why are tiles used instead of other novel solutions, for non-ablative heatshields?
Are tiles that much more cost effective as a thermal protection system?
What other novel methods have been tried? The obvious issues seem to be different thermal properties and rigidity and how to ...
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Maximum and minimum surface temperatures of a satellite in GEO?
Just as the title, how could one find out, or simply estimate the maximum and minimum likely surface temperatures of a satellite orbiting in GEO.
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How to get the reduction in Heat Flux due to Barbecue Roll on Spacecraft?
As we know, to keep the surface of the spacecraft relatively cool, we spin the spacecraft so that not just one side of the spacecraft is heated.
Due to this what is the effective Heat Flux encountered ...
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Why are the heat sensor probes in HP3 probe spaced with reducing gap with depth?
The HP3 probe used for studying the geothermal features of Martian surface, hammers upto 5m deep and inserts a tether lined with heat sensor probes.
This link shared earlier by @uhoh, is an ...
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What happens to Lunar (or asteroidal) regolith if sunlight is concentrated on it?
At 24:40 into this lecture, technology development scientist Laurent Sibille briefly describes an experiment done with a regolith simulant for Lunar Mare. The process of producing oxygen and reusing ...
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