EURECA Thermal Control Flight Performance

The European Retrievable Carrier at the time of writing is completing its mission in low Earth orbit, waiting for the retrieval launch of the Shuttle STS-57. EURECA has completed already to a large extent its scientific operations and has undergone to a series of various orbital phases. The thermal control performances are addressed in this paper on the basis of the presently flown mission. The thermal control achievements are evaluated by comparing them with the analytical predictions performed. Temperature characteristics are analysed, as well as operational aspects of the thermal design. Particular aspects are addressed in more detail, especially in those areas where the EURECA thermal control is peculiar, like the active cooling loop. Preliminary results of the impact of the cooling loop on the microgravity environment are also presented.