Schiaparelli prepares for thermal tests
Date: 09 June 2015
Satellite: ExoMars 2016
Copyright: ESA – B. Bethge
The 600kg flight model of the ExoMars Schiaparelli demonstrator module pictured prior to the start of thermal tests in the ESP70 Thermal Vacuum Chamber at the Thales Alenia Space premises in Cannes, France.
In June and July 2015, Schiaparelli was subject to thermal vacuum and thermal balance tests. These tests measure the thermal performance of the spacecraft module under space conditions. In particular, they measure how the module behaves as the temperature changes – during these tests the outer shell of Schiaparelli reached temperatures ranging between -100° and +30° – in high vacuum (space-like) conditions, and how the module reaches thermal equilibrium. In addition, these measurements are used to verify the thermal model of the module.
