Space HardeningThermal control and protecting the communication system is the most critical aspect of space-hardening the spacecraft for the deep space mission to Epsilon Eridani. The electronics used within the spacecraft will need to be thoroughly tested for reliability over as many cycles as possible so that the devices will be able to run the duration of the mission. Because the mission is set to be around 80,000 years, the spacecraft will use multiple redundancy for all critical electronic devices. The devices will be designed so that there are at least two of each device capable of running at any moment. A central computer, with a backup of its own, will monitor the status of all the electronics on-board and instruct any switching between devices that might need to occur. This redundancy will ensure that all of the critical communication electronics will be functional when the spacecraft reaches Epsilon Eridani.
Temperature Control
Temperature
control within the spacecraft is of critical importance for the
longevity and correct functionality of the electronic components
on-board. The spacecraft will be subjected to extreme temperatures
while in space and also quick changes as it exits Earth’s atmosphere.
These quick changes need to be mitigated, and the temperature within
the spacecraft must be controlled. While the spacecraft is near the
sun, the sun’s radiation will cause it to heat during operation, so the
spacecraft needs to be shielded from this radiation while the
electronics need to be cooled. As the spacecraft gets further from the
sun, heat must be generated within the spacecraft to maintain optimal
operating temperature.
Because it will be using an Heatpipe Power
System, HPS, the spacecraft can divert a portion of this heat to
providing heat to the rest of the electronics using an auxiliary
heatpipe network. This diversion will require special hardware and
control devices to monitor the temperature of the instruments on-board
and maintain the most efficient use of energy generated by the HPS
nuclear reactor. In addition to this complex on-board temperature
control system, thermal blankets will be used for insulation and
thermal shields will be used to protect the spacecraft from the sun’s
radiation and Epsilon Eridani’s radiation. These thermal shields will
be of vital importance as the stellar wind of Epsilon Eridani is much
greater than that our the sun. This increase in charged particles being
expelled from Epsilon Eridani need to be kept from interfering with the
spacecraft operation.
Communication System Protection
The
25m hybrid inflatable parabolic dish antenna system will be protected from space debris by a Cassegrain fiberglass radome. This radome will be constructed
so that it is transparent to the RF signal being transmitted. Once deployed, the
radome will ensure that surface of the large parabolic dish antenna
remains free from damage that could result in an attenuation in
RF signal power. A surface free from defects is critical for achieving the highest possible gain and having the best chance for error-free transmission of the high-resolution images back to Earth.
Source: http://www.sortec.sk/pictures/cennik/933_radome.jpg
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