Ground test method and results of closed two-phase thermosyphons for the moon exploration spacecraft Chang’E-3

Abstract

Closed two-phase thermosyphons were developed for the thermal control system in the Chinese moon exploration spacecraft ChangE-3. This is the first space application for the thermosyphon. The biggest challenge of the thermal control system was to maintain the equipment temperature levels to help the lander and the rover survive the 14-earth day cold night without power supply. Closed two-phase thermosyphons were designed to transfer the RHU heat to the equipments at lunar night. The thermal control system could require no power supply and less weight to survive the explorer at lunar night. The ground test method was established to verify the heat transfer capability of the loops that will operate on the moon surface by sextupling the cross section area of the reservoir and decreasing the height difference between the reservoir and the reservoir to be a sixth of the real difference. The thermal vacuum test results of the two-phase loop designed for the lunar rover will be presented.