The satellites of mission Proba have been launched into orbit by the PSLV launcher in Sriharikota, India. This ambitious mission’s goal is to fly two small satellites in formation and, in the process, study the sun’s faint corona. The door, which serves as a protection of the coronagraph ASPIICS, was developed by VZLU AEROSPACE subsidiary SERENUM.
The Proba-3 mission consists of two satellites, which have to achieve precise formation flying and simulate solar eclipse. The first satellite will be in the middle between the other satellite and the sun, creating a shadow. That will allow the coronagraph on the second satellite to observe the solar corona, which will be visible then.
To protect the optics and electronics of the coronagraph when the satellite isn’t shadowed and is under direct sunlight, VZLU AEROSPACE developed a unique front door mechanism. It carries optical elements to calibrate the attitude sensors while the satellite is in the shadow of a second satellite. As soon as both satellites accomplish a fixed configuration in space, the door will automatically open, allowing observation and measuring. When the satellites deviate from the formation and the intensity of the sunlight grows, the door will close to protect the coronagraph.
“The most complex part of the design was meeting the requirements for mechanical loads during rocket launch and the wide range of operating temperatures. All this is done while maintaining high reliability and a long lifespan for the door. Equally challenging was the verification of the product in simulated conditions in our laboratories, “said Radek Peřestý, leading research and development worker at VZLU AEROSPACE.
The door will be exposed to extreme temperatures in space. It was essential to ensure they would be resilient to temperatures up to -100°C and high temperatures up to +110°C. We thoroughly tested the door’s durability in our laboratories in Letnany, Prague.
The door’s surface is coated with special white paint that reflects sunlight and helps prevent the instrument from overheating. The door is made out of aluminum alloy, which is ideal for use in space, with the most stressed parts made out of titanium for maximum strength and durability.
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