THE CONTRIBUTION OF THERMAL EFFECTS TO THE ACCELERATION OF THE DEEP-SPACE PIONEER SPACECRAFT

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2012

Authors

Orfeu Bertolami (Author) FCUP; Frederico Francisco (Author) Other; Paulo J S Gil (Author) Other; Jorge Paramos (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: FIRST IAA CONFERENCE ON DYNAMICS AND CONTROL OF SPACE SYSTEMS 2012, PTS I AND II

Pages: 11-26

1st International-Academy-of-Astronautics Conference on Dynamics and Control of Space Systems (DyCoSS)

Porto, PORTUGAL, MAR 19-21, 2012

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Mechanical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-005-K7J

Abstract (EN): A method for the computation of the radiative momentum transfer in the Pioneer 10 & 11 spacecraft due to the diffusive and specular components of reflection is presented. The method provides a reliable estimate of the thermal contribution to the acceleration of these deep space probes and allows for a Monte-Carlo analysis from which an estimate of the impact of a possible variability of the parameters. It is shown that the whole anomalous acceleration can be explained by thermal effects. The model also allows one to estimate the expected time evolution of the acceleration due to thermal effects. The issue of thermal conduction between the different components of the spacecraft is discussed and confirmed to be negligible.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16