NASA's Earth Observing (EO-1) satellite, which carries the radiator panel, was launched from Vandenburg AFB, Calif., November 21, 2000. The satellite is the first of three New Millennium Program Earth-Orbiting missions that demonstrates new instruments and spacecraft systems.

Carbon-carbon has the widest range of tailorable thermal conductivity and stiffness amongst the elements. It has a low density and in some circumstances can save two to three times the weight over aluminum.

High conductivity carbon-carbon facesheets can enable radiator panels to dissipate more heat thereby reducing (and in some design scenarios actually eliminating) the number of required heat pipes.

Knowing that future spacecraft will require smaller and more closely packed electronic components, and that radiator panels will need to be lighter and conduct more thermal heat, researchers from the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate's Nonmetallic Materials Division and the National Aeronautics Space Administration created the Carbon-Carbon Space Radiator Partnership.

Beginning in 1994, the partnership was dedicated to promoting the use of carbon-carbon and answering the question of why system developers hadn't yet used it for space applications.

Satellites in orbit carry electronic components that generate heat while they perform their jobs. They also absorb radiation. Radiator panels, which are a structural element of the satellite, prevent damage to these heat sensitive components by conducting and radiating heat away from them.

In the past, aluminum has been used in satellite radiator panels because of its conductivity, and structural and physical properties. However, there are lighter-weight and superior performing material alternatives, such as carbon-carbon.

In order for aluminum panels to work, they have to be thicker near high heat load zones. In some circumstances, using a lighter panel could provide weight savings for additional payloads.

Experts in various areas of materials research and testing, the partnership took several steps toward proposing space flight of a carbon-carbon radiator panel.

Materials research engineers at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., and from the Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland AFB, NM, wrote the original proposal to NASA's New Millennium Program suggesting use of a carbon-carbon facesheet radiator on the EO-1 spacecraft.

NASA designed the New Millennium Program to help identify, develop and test new, more cost-effective spacecraft technologies by including them on small operational satellites. The materials and components included in the program may be used in future full-sized satellites.

The Navy built eight carbon-carbon facesheets for destructive and nondestructive testing, and passed them to Lockheed Martin who built the radiator structures. NASA Goddard conducted thermal vacuum, vibration testing to simulate conditions the radiator would face during launch and its time in space.

In addition, NASA Langley and Lockheed Martin performed additional characterization and evaluation before being the first group to deliver their experiment to EO-1 integrators. The Air Force and NASA contributed funding and contract vehicles that were imperative to getting the work accomplished.

Though carbon-carbon enthusiasts see challenges ahead, including developing faster and cheaper manufacturing methods, and better joint and joining properties, the EO-1 flight is providing actual space flight test results of a carbon-carbon radiator panel.

Members of the partnership see this as a natural step towards gradual acceptance and future integration of carbon-carbon in other space systems.

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