Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-npj9w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-09T18:29:15.353Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

4 - The Space Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2020

Eric A. Silk
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park
Get access

Summary

Spacecraft, which we will also refer to as satellites in this text, comprise one or multiple instruments and subsystems that enable measurements and/or observations, platform orientation, health monitoring and uplink/downlink communications. Generally, instruments are comprised of subsystems and subsystems are comprised of components. Thermal control system (TCS) design considerations are applied to all items onboard a spacecraft, and the most stringent requirements typically apply to items associated with instruments. This is because instruments typically carry specially designed hardware built to perform a specific type of measurement (or observation) in space. Adherence of spaceflight system operations to properly defined thermal parameters (i.e., requirements) enables the success of the thermal control system applied.

Information

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

  • The Space Environment
  • Eric A. Silk, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Book: Introduction to Spacecraft Thermal Design
  • Online publication: 19 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108149914.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • The Space Environment
  • Eric A. Silk, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Book: Introduction to Spacecraft Thermal Design
  • Online publication: 19 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108149914.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Space Environment
  • Eric A. Silk, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Book: Introduction to Spacecraft Thermal Design
  • Online publication: 19 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108149914.004
Available formats
×