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Integrated Pump Assembly - An Active Cooling System for Mars Pathfinder Thermal Control
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Abstract
The Mars Pathfinder spacecraft which will be launched in December 1996 features an active cooling system for controlling the temperature of the spacecraft. This will be the first time that such a mechanical pump cooling system is used on an interplanetary or long duration flight (over two weeks) in space. The major element of the cooling system is the Integrated Pump Assembly (IPA). It uses centrifugal pumps to circulate liquid freon to transfer heat from spacecraft electronics to an external radiator. The IPA consists of redundant pumps, motor control electronics, thermal control valves, check valves, and an accumulator. The design and flight implementation of this pump assembly were accomplished in less than two years. This paper describes the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of the IPA.
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Birur, G., Bhandari, P., Gram, M., and Durkee, J., "Integrated Pump Assembly - An Active Cooling System for Mars Pathfinder Thermal Control," SAE Technical Paper 961489, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/961489.Also In
References
- Bhandari, P Birur Gajanana. Gram Marshall “Mechanical Pumped Cooling Loop for Spacecraft Thermal Control,” 26th International Conference on Environmental Sciences Monterey, California July 8-11 1996
- De Paolis, M. “A controlled Pump Assessment for Spacecraft Cooling,” Thermal Control and Heat Rejection Section ESTEC The Netherlands 141 162 18 ESA Journal 1994