Project Title:

Ultra-Lightweight Unfurlable Radiator

09.08-6551B
912232
Ultra-Lightweight Unfurlable Radiator
Thermacore, Inc.
780 Eden Road
Lancaster
PA
17601
Nelson J.
Gernert
717-569-6551
JSC
NAS9-18674
195

09.08-6551B
912232

Abstract:

Ultra-Lightweight Unfurlable Radiator
Lunar and Mars manned bases being considered by NASA will need to reject in excess
of 100 kw of thermal power. Current state-of-the-art aluminum-ammonia, heat-pipe
space radiator technology being developed for Space Station Freedom is too heavy
and voluminous to be used for these future space missions. Accordingly there is a
need for a revolutionary advanced space radiator system. This project outlines an
effort to satisfy that need through the development of a collapsible, multiple-heat-pipe
radiating system that is extremely light weight (0.43Kg/m2). This system is about
sixteen times lighter than a conventional radiator's weight of 7 Kg/m2. The feature
of collapsibility will allow the system to be compactly rolled or folded, easily
stowed for transit to space, and unfurled to present a large radiating surface. The
radiator panel will be fabricated from a 0.006-inch thick heat-sealable, extremely
flexible polymer and metal film laminate that is divided into several independent
heat-pipe cells. These multiple cells add redundancy to the system, which in turn
yields increased reliability. The technical feasibility of the proposed innovation
will be demonstrated through the design, fabrication, and test of a proof-of-concept
polymer and metal-film laminate, heat-pipe radiator panel.
The applications of a reduced-weight heat rejection system will extend to NASA, military,
and commercial spacecraft, as well as for use on future lunar and planetary bases.
A lightweight heat pipe radiator may have significant economic benefits due to the
reduced payload weight and volume.
heat pipe, radiator, deployable radiator, unfurlable radiator