Comparison of SIRTF dewar performance in the 900 km and 100,000 km orbitsFeasibility studies showed that the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) can be launched into a 100,000-km high earth orbit (HEO) using a Titan/Centaur launch vehicle. This paper compares the performance of an all-superfluid helium dewar system for SIRTF under conditions of the LEO (900-km) and the HEO missions. Results show that the SIRTF all-superfluid He dewar can achieve a 5-yr lifetime for the 100,000 km HEO mission, with 20 percent margin. Methods to achieve further enhancement of dewar lifetime for the HEO mission are suggested.
Document ID
19920030731
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lee, J. H. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Maa, S. S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Ng, Y. S. (Sterling Federal Systems, Inc. Palo Alto, CA, United States)