Thermodynamic Behavior of Cold Gas System for the Attitude Control of Tethered Satellite

Nitrogen gas temperature profiles during all the phases of the Tethered Satellite mission have been predicted. The evaluation of the heat transfer coefficient between the tank and the gas is the leading parameter for the computation of such temperature history. It has been demonstrated that a good coupling with the satellite environment and an external power source are necessary to maintain the gas and the Auxiliary Propulsion Subsystem (APS) component's temperature within acceptable limits and to fulfill the total impulse requirement.