The Solar Simulation Test of the ITALSAT Structural Thermal Model

The thermal control design of the Italian Satellite (ITALSAT) has been experimentally qualified by means of a solar simulation test performed on a dedicated structural/thermal model. The test model was thermally representative of the flight unit and all the thermal hardware was flight standard.

Thermal analysis in the test conditions have been performed in order to verify the thermal mathematical models of the spacecraft.

The paper describes the tested spacecraft model and the test approach. Test results, correlation with predicted temperatures as well as influences of test conditions on spacecraft test temperatures are presented and discussed.