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Thermal Control Design of the European Robotic Arm (ERA)
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English
Abstract
As part of the European contribution to the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), the European Robotic Arm (ERA) is designed under contract from the European Space Agency by Fokker Space as the Prime contractor. After the launch in 1999, ERA operations will first begin with the assembly of the Russian segment and then later continue with the routine tasks such as inspection, maintenance, freight handling, etc.
The particularly challenging aspect of the ERA thermal design is to enable ERA to operate under all possible, but wide, in-orbit thermal environmental conditions which are to be experienced throughout its 10 year life. These can be between the extreme cold conditions without sunlight for hibernation to the extreme hot conditions with ERA operating in full sunlight in close vicinity to a large station item, for instance, the solar arrays.
First a short description of the ERA system is given, then the thermal requirements and the main thermal design features are presented. Also an overview of the thermal control design cases analysis is given. The design case definition is the outcome of a comprehensive analysis involving both the natural and the induced thermal environmental parameters. Attention is also drawn to the analysis tools which had to account for the fact that the thermal design was performed under the responsibility of different subcontractors. Finally, the on-going verification and qualification program is briefly addressed.
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Citation
Boillot, Y. and Beere, G., "Thermal Control Design of the European Robotic Arm (ERA)," SAE Technical Paper 972526, 1997, https://doi.org/10.4271/972526.Also In
References
- Kampen S. Mandersloot W. The European Robotic Arm and its role as part of the Russian segment of the International Space Station Alpha 46th International Astronomical Congress Oslo
- Meiboom F.P. Structural and Mechanical design of the European Robotic Arm
- Beerthuizen P.G Onboard Software Design and Development Issues for the European Robotic Arm (ERA) International Symposium on On-board Real-time Software ESTEC Noordwijk 13-15 November 1995
- Didot F. Kampen S. Mitchenko V. Extension of ERA Capabilities by Interaction with Other Automated Facilities on the Russian Segment of the ISS i-SAIRAS Space Robotic conference 16-18 July 1997 Tokyo - Japan