Technical Paper
Thermal Design of the TOPEX/POSEIDON Instrument Module
1990-07-01
901241
The TOPEX/POSEIDON spacecraft is scheduled for launch in June 1992 aboard an Ariane 42P vehicle. The TOPEX/POSEIDON mission is a collaborative scientific venture between NASA and CNES. The primary objective of the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission is to perform precise measurements of the ocean surface topography by radar altimetry from a precision, circular orbit. The satellite consists of two major elements, the Multimission Modular Spacecraft bus and the Instrument Module. The IM accommodates seven instruments, the solar array, three communication antennae, and a variety of satellite support equipment. NASA develops five of the instruments, CNES develops the other two. The IM thermal design is a non-optimized design representing a compromise in the accommodation of unique mission requirements.
