Estimation of Possibility of using Tubular Gas-Discharge Radiation Sources for Simulating Thermal Regimes of Large-Size Space Structures

The creation of spacecrafts with a long term of functioning predetermines the importance of the problem of estimating variations in physical properties of the structure materials exposed to space conditions. This problem is especially urgent in creating advanced large-size space stations comprising a great number of structural members made of non-metallic materials including polymer ones, whose properties substantially change under exposure to factors of space medium. One of the most significant factors is the Sun radiation in the short-wave spectrum region which causes the degradation of properties and hence the change in all physicomechanical characteristics of materials. For the large-size space structures with characteristic sizes of tens of meters (antennas, panels of the life support and temperature control system), this may lead to variations in rigidity characteristics ofstructural members, in their dynamical characteristics and shape. Due to complexity and high cost of space technology, a large role in creating new spacecrafts is always given to ground testing of structures and to simulation of their exposure to space factors. The possibilities of using the gas-discharge tubular water-cooled radiation sources for simulation of thermal regimes of space structures are considered. For the most accurate reproduction of the Sun radiation spectrum, it is proposed to use the water-cooled quartz sheath of the radiator as a filter of radiation. It is shown that the variations in the absorption coefficient, arising in this case, do not lead to critical changes in the temperature state of the sheath-filter.

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