Fundamentals and Applications of Thermal Vacuum Testing Online

Fundamentals

1. Introduction to testing requirements and goals
   1. The TV test goals
      1. Verify performance of s/c components
      2. Verify performance of s/c thermal system
      3. Verify and calibrate s/c thermal model
   2. Type of tests:
      1. System
      2. Survivability
      3. Functioning
      4. Unit
2. TV test results:
   1. Verification of s/c performance
   2. Verification of a thermal model
   3. Functional Testing
   4. Electro-magnetic/EMI Testing
   5. Vibration/Shock Testing
   6. Thermal Testing
      1. Thermal Bakeout Testing
      2. Thermal Cycle Testing
      3. Thermal Vacuum Cycle Testing
      4. Thermal Vacuum Balance Testing
3. Introduction to Vacuum Science
   1. Overview of vacuum science and modeling
   2. Throughput, Gas Flow, and Pumping Conductance
   3. Flow Regimes – Viscous, Turbulent, Transition, and Molecular
   4. Surface Outgassing
4. Vacuum modeling
   1. Desorption, Diffusion, and Permeation
   2. The Importance of vacuum baking
   3. Pumping of heavy gasses (Xe,Kr)
   4. Constructing a complete vacuum model
   5. Analytical software tools
5. Basic of heat transfer in vacuum
   1. Conduction
   2. Radiation
   3. Optical properties
6. Thermal control methods
   1. Heater control methods
   2. Mounting and thermal interface
   3. Radiative thermal control
   4. Temperature sensors
   5. Thermocouples/RTDs
   6. Calibration of temperature channels A/D and D/A conversion
7. Thermal model
   1. Purpose
   2. Development
   3. Aging
8. Use of thermal model to develop TV test protocol
   1. Modification of the model – mounting interface
   2. Energy sources and sinks
   3. To conditions close to flight and exceed it
   4. Placement of Temperature sensors
   5. s/c orientation in the chamber – heat pipes, propellant tanks, loop heat pipe

Applications

1. Thermal Testing
   1. Thermal Cycle Testing
   2. Thermal Vacuum Cycle Testing
   3. Thermal Vacuum Balance Testing
   4. Thermal Bakeout Testing
2. TV shock chamber
   1. Features
   2. Advantages
   3. Transient test
3. Type of tests:
   1. System
   2. Survivability
   3. Functioning
   4. Unit
4. TV test results:
   1. Verification of s/c performance
   2. Verification of thermal model
5. Functional Testing
   1. Electro-magnetic/EMI Testing
   2. Vibration/Shock Testing
6. Overview of vacuum hardware
   1. Generating vacuum (pumps)
      1. Rough Vacuum Technologies
         1. Understanding pump characteristic curves
         2. Pump technologies pros/cons
      2. High Vacuum Technologies
         1. Turbomolecular pumps
         2. Diffusion pumps
         3. Cryopumps
   2. Flanges/Fittings
   3. Materials for vacuum use
      1. Metals
      2. Elastomers
      3. Materials to avoid
      4. How to research materials for vacuum use/criteria for use
7. Methods of Thermal Control
   1. Thermal control Surfaces
      1. Thermal Platens
      2. Passive Shrouds
      3. Active Shrouds
      4. Cold Fingers/PlatesTV shock chamber
      5. 2.1. Features
      6. 2.2. Advantages
      7. 2.3. Transient test
      8. Inserts
   2. Common Thermal Control Hardware
      1. QTH Heaters
      2. Calrod Heaters
      3. Epoxy Heaters
      4. LN2
      5. GN2/TCUs
      6. Fluid Chillers
   3. High and Low Emissivity Surface Treatments
8. Common Test Metrology and Instrumentation
   1. Pressure Gauges
   2. RGA
   3. TQCM
   4. Optical Witness Glass
9. Implementing Environmental Testing
   1. Determining Requirements
   2. Generating Test Plans
   3. Test implementation
   4. Out-sourced Testing Services
   5. Establishing In-House Testing
10. Vacuum System Maintenance
    1. Avoiding Real and Virtual Leaks
    2. System leak detection methods
    3. Generating a PM schedule

Dr. Joshua Gurian, President, Rydberg Vacuum Sciences
As a physicist with more than twenty years of high vacuum experience, Joshua Gurian has established himself as an expert in the design and construction of thermal vacuum test solutions. In 2018, Dr. Gurian founded Rydberg Vacuum Sciences, Inc., a space simulation systems manufacturer focused on providing high quality thermal vacuum environments tailored to the needs of the small satellite community. Since earning his PhD in physics from the University of Virginia in 2010, Dr. Gurian has applied his scientific knowledge and expertise towards a wide variety of complex problems, from novel space simulation systems to advanced optical coatings for ground and space-based telescope systems. Prior to founding RVS, Dr. Gurian was the Senior Scientist at Dynavac, leading their Applications Lab to develop meaningful solutions to customers’ most pressing technical challenges.
Dr. Boris Yendler, CEO & Principal Consultant, YSPMM LLC
Dr. Boris Yendler is an expert in thermal terrestrial and space applications. He has 30+ years of experience as a thermal engineer, developing methods for thermal management of different systems including spacecraft platforms. He is CEO and founder of YSPM, LLC, a consulting engineering company that provides engineering services to satellite operators and manufactures including propellant gauging, thermal and propulsion systems support, etc. Currently, Dr. Yendler is working on several space missions, including smallsat Lunar IceCube (Morehead university and NASA), landing BereSheet (Israel) spacecraft on Moon surface, GEO communication smallsat (Astranis), reliability of individual flying vehicle (Armada E), etc.

Dr. Yendler has taught courses at different universities and military installations, including but not limited to Purdue University, Morehead University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force base, etc. He previously worked as a thermal engineer at Lockheed Martin Corp. (LM) for almost 20 years.