PSP Bibliography

Designing, building, andtesting of a thermal protection systemfor a spacecraft which cannot be qualifiedusing standard methodology

This is a case study of the Thermal Protection System (TPS) currently in use on the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, which over its seven year life it will experience surface temperatures in excess of 1400C. The traditional methodology for qualifying a space structure, using the old adage, "test what you fly and fly what you test" was simply not practical based on the selected materials, the size of the TPS, and a space environment characterized by its hard vacuumand hightemperatures. The approach to risk mitigation both in te ...

Schaefera, Edward; Congdon, Elizabeth; Conkey, Shelly;

Published by: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC      Published on:

YEAR: 2019     DOI:

Carbon carbon composites; Materials; Testing; Parker Engineering

Parker solar probe structural-thermal analysis challenges

The NASA Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, built by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab will fly through the outermost part of the Sun s atmosphere taking in situ measurements and imaging to improve our understanding of the corona and the solar wind. The Thermal Protection System (TPS), a 4.5-inch thick carbon-composite heat shield, limits heat transfer to the spacecraft during its flight through the Sun s atmosphere, and casts a shadow which protects the spacecraft and its instruments from the harsh thermal enviro ...

Conkey, Shelly; Congdon, Elisabeth; Schaefer, Ed; Abel, Elizabeth;

Published by: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC      Published on:

YEAR: 2019     DOI:

Ability testing; Carbon carbon composites; Correlation methods; Heat shielding; Heat transfer; NASA; Orbits; Probes; Software testing; Structural properties; Temperature; Test facilities; Thermoanalysis; Thermocouples; Uncertainty analysis; Parker Engineering

Case study of the parker solar probe thermal protection system: Development of a system level process for high temperature technology achievement

Successful development of high temperature systems is complex and difficult. Limitations in testing, manufacturing and materials means that design and testing of such systems is challenging. NASA s Parker Solar Probe (PSP) Spacecraft built by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory was launched in August 2018 and is measuring the Sun s atmosphere in situ. A critical technology development which made this mission possible is the 4.5 inch-thick Thermal Protection System (TPS) that has to withstand 2500°F and protect t ...

Congdon, Elizabeth; Mehoke, Douglas; Conkey, Shelly; Schaefer, Ed; Abel, Elisabeth;

Published by: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC      Published on:

YEAR: 2019     DOI:

Heat shielding; High temperature effects; High temperature engineering; Manufacture; NASA; Probes; Thermal insulating materials; Parker Engineering

Protecting flight hardware during spacecraft vibration testing through greater understanding of the CONTRL systems ability to control input and limit responses

Spacecraft level vibration testing exposes the as-built spacecraft, in its flight configuration, to the low frequency (<100 Hz) dynamic environment experienced during launch with the primary objective of verifying structural integrity and system performance. This test requires as flight-like of a configuration as possible and is therefore typically one of the last tests performed in the spacecraft verification program. At this level of integration (spacecraft), failures pose a much greater risk to the program than at lower l ...

Conkey, Shelly; Schaefer, Ed; Persons, David;

Published by: 30th Space Simulation Conference: Mission Success Through Testing of Critical Challenges      Published on:

YEAR: 2018     DOI:

Ability testing; Environmental testing; Software testing; Spacecraft; Vibration analysis; Vibration control; Parker Engineering