Design and verification of the thermal control system for the Zhurong rover

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">The conditions of low temperature, weak sunlight, and low-density atmosphere on Mars pose severe challenges to the thermal control design and verification of the Zhurong rover. The thermal control system adopts the idea of broadening sources of incoming energy and reducing energy expenditure. This is accomplished by an energy conversion and storage system based on in-situ solar energy use combined with a nano-aerogel insulation system, which solves the problems of energy supply and heat loss without a nuclear source. The thermal design has been verified by thermal analysis simulations. Low-pressure static thermal balance tests, low-pressure atmosphere thermal balance tests, and thermal control product performance tests were carried out to validate the thermal model. The testing was successful, and the thermal control verification problem, caused by the difficulty of comprehensively simulating the thermal environment on Mars, was solved. The successful design and full verification of the thermal control system laid the foundation for the spacecraft to complete its mission.