When NASA’s latest earth-observation satellite, the Landsat Data Continuity (LDCM) mission launched into orbit on February 11, it carried some of the world’s most advanced space technology – including mission-critical cooling components from k Technology, a Division of Thermacore Inc., a leading provider of advanced thermal solutions.
Once thoroughly tested in orbit, the satellite will be known as Landsat 8 and will be operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. Landsat 8 is intended to monitor environmental, natural and man-made changes to the Earth’s surface using two sensitive data-collecting instruments, the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS).
Thermal management, to preserve the accuracy and life of these high-tech devices, is crucial to the success of the mission, which is expected to last several years. Throughout the Landsat 8 mission, internal heat generated by the satellite’s electronics must continually be rejected to the cold and vacuum of outer space, with maintenance and adjustments being impossible after launch.
To meet this difficult thermal challenge, while maintaining a strict launch schedule, NASA called upon Thermacore’s expertise and unique thermal management technologies to create three thermal solutions designed to help the TIRS instrument operate at peak efficiency.
One of the three solutions is a thermal spreader constructed from k-Core Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite (APG) encapsulated within aluminum. The thermal spreader will dissipate heat quickly, and reduces high temperatures and variations in temperature, while keeping the delicate TIRS instrumentation significantly cooler than a traditional aluminum-based thermal design.
The TIRS components will also be protected by two additional Thermacore solutions that supply both thermal management and structural support. The first is a thermal bracket that conducts the heat from the approximately 185K telescope to its radiator. The second is a large cryocooler supporting bracket providing high heat conductance and strong support to ensure consistent thermal performance throughout the mission. In creating this component,
Thermacore engineers fashioned a lightweight, high-integrity 20 lb bracket from 400 lb of encapsulated APG.
In addition to providing these advanced thermal technology solutions, Thermacore was also selected for their ability to meet a challenging schedule with tight deadlines. “We are honored that NASA has selected Thermacore to assist in such an important environmental mission. NASA knew they could count on us to deliver our solutions when TIRS itself was delivered,” says Mark Montesano, Vice President, Engineering, Thermacore k Technology Division. “Because thermal management is so essential to the mission’s success, our thermal components had to be tested and ready for launch when everything else was – there was no margin for error.”