Thermal Control of X-ray Astronomy Satellite ASTRO-E2 “SUZAKU” 2007-01-3081
Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-E2 named “SUZAKU“ was successfully launched on July 10, 2005. SUZAKU is the fifth Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite to observe X-ray coming from hot and active regions in the universe in collaboration with NASA GSFC, MIT and University of Wisconsin.
“SUZAKU” has achieved the high sensitivity wide energy band X-ray spectroscopy than ever before. It is equipped with X -ray telescopes (XRT) and three kinds of focal plane instruments, X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS), X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) and Hard X-Ray Detector (HXD).
A radiation-cooling system, connected to XIS and HXD with heat pipes, is provided to cool them below −30 C and −20 C respectively. Furthermore, a side panel has a large cut out to expose XRS cryogenic Dewar for direct cooling.
Flight temperatures indicate that the three sensors are kept below their cooling-requirement temperature. They also indicate that all components are kept within their allowable temperature range in good agreement with prediction. We confirmed that thermal control subsystem is performing normally and thermal design of the satellite is adequate.
This paper describes the thermal control concept of SUZAKU, and in-orbit thermal performance.