Instrument Thermal Test Bed: A Unique Two Phase Test Facility

The Instrument Thermal Test Bed (ITTB) is a modular, large scale test facility which provides a medium for ground testing and flight qualification of spacecraft thermal control components and system configurations. The initial “shake-down” operations are discussed herein. Operational parameters and performance characteristics were determined and quantified on a preliminary basis. The ITTB was successfully operated at evaporator power loads ranging from 600 W to 9600 W as well as in both capillary pumped and series hybrid pumped modes.