Thermal Balance Test for Optical Remote Sensing Platform Based on Specialized Dual Strategy External Heat Flux Simulation Method

Thermal balance test is one of the important tests for verifying the thermal model of the satellite and assessing the design of the thermal control system. This paper is oriented to the thermal balance test problems of China’s optical remote sensing platform satellites, and based on the comparison of domestic and foreign thermal balance test methods, systematically analyzes the influence of the remote sensing satellite’s complicated configuration layout, variable external heat flow and other elements on the test, and puts forward a dual external heat flow simulation strategy for a certain model of optical remote sensing satellites. The infrared heating cage realizes the simulation of external heat flow on the surface of satellite cabin plate, and the thin-film electric heater realizes the simulation of external heat flow on the exposed and complex surface of satellite, and combines with the active tracking and temperature control method to reduce the heat leakage from the docking flange of the satellite and other parts of the satellite. The test results show that the method can accurately simulate the external heat flow of the satellite under the working conditions of low-temperature initial period and high-temperature final period, effectively assess the thermal control design, provide a basis for the optimization of the satellite transient power dissipation design, and provide support for the test and verification of China’s future optical remote sensing satellites.