The Porous Plate Sublimator as the X-38/CRV(Crew Return Vehicle) Orbital Heat Sink 972411
A porous plate sublimator (an existing Lunar Module design) is being evaluated as the heat sink for the X-38 vehicle due to its simplicity, reliability, and flight readiness. It is ideally suited for the X-38/CRV as it requires no active control, has no moving parts, has 100 % water usage efficiency, and is a well-proven technology.
This paper presents sublimator performance, including ground test data at CRV conditions, at both a component and system level. Potential sublimator modifications which could allow significant CRV ECLSS system simplification, reliability enhancement, and cost reduction are also discussed.
Citation: Tongue, S., Swartley, V., and Dingell, C., "The Porous Plate Sublimator as the X-38/CRV(Crew Return Vehicle) Orbital Heat Sink," SAE Technical Paper 972411, 1997, https://doi.org/10.4271/972411. Download Citation
Author(s):
Stephen Tongue, Vern Swartley, Charles W. Dingell
Affiliated:
Hamilton Standard Space Systems International, Inc.
Pages: 7
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Related Topics:
Reliability
Parts
Water
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