The satellite ‘HALCA’ was launched in February 1997 by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan. HALCA is a scientific satellite with a large deployable antenna to make experiments on space VLBI.
The deployable antenna, developed under the requirements of large aperture area and accurate reflector surface, is formed of complicated structures and lots of
mechanisms. Though heat exchange in the antenna was complicated and difficult to evaluate, antenna thermal performance in orbit was within expectations and all mechanisms were adequately controlled until the antenna deployment.
This paper describes thermal control design of the large deployable antenna, thermal design verification in the thermal balance test, and evaluation of performance in orbit.
mechanisms. Though heat exchange in the antenna was complicated and difficult to evaluate, antenna thermal performance in orbit was within expectations and all mechanisms were adequately controlled until the antenna deployment.This paper describes thermal control design of the large deployable antenna, thermal design verification in the thermal balance test, and evaluation of performance in orbit.