|
||||
The tanker orbitThe tanker will be placed in an A5-GTO orbit has a perigee height oscillation within acceptable limits and an Inclination evolution within a narrow band. Thus the tanker spacecraft will freeze. This has never happened intentionally before. This solution offers both simplicity and low cost. This orbit has long eclipse durations and if a thermal subsystem would be required it would need very high performance and cost specifications. The tanker design embodies certain manufacturing design principles and operational principles that allow the hardware to survive under low temperatures and thermal cycling. The passive nature of the tanker spacecraft (no power to activate valves or heaters, no presence of pyrotechnical devices, no electromagnetic compatibility issue) ensures the safety at the launch site and on the launcher. The tnaker will fly around uncontrolled. This is a practice currently followed by several operational s/c. Some NOAA spacecraft and some telescopes are operating that way. In addition, the upper stages of Arianespace are left in the same GTO orbit for over 25 years before reentry. |
||||
|
