Speaker
Description
SVOM (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) mission objective is a thorough monitoring of Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) phenomena. Based on a collaboration between France (CNES: French Space Agency) and China (CNSA: China National Space Administration and CAS: Chinese Academy of Science), the SVOM payload includes four scientific instruments (ECLAIRs and MXT provided by CNES, GRM and VT provided by CNSA/CAS) installed on SVOM spacecraft. On Earth, several telescopes and a data center contribute to GRBs observations in addition to SVOM payload. This paper covers the ECLAIRs instrument, designed to detect GRBs autonomously in near real time in the X-Gamma ray energy range, and then to quickly transmit to the ground telescopes their direction in the universe. After a GRB detection, a change of the spacecraft orientation points the other instruments in the GRB direction. Therefore, the ECLAIRs TCS (Thermal Control System) main constraint is to allow ECLAIRs instrument to detect GRBs whatever the attitude and the position of the spacecraft on its orbit. Indeed, the ECLAIRs TCS copes with a large variation of external environment during the mission with low heating power allocations. Thus, the ECLAIRs detection plane thermal bus uses Variable Conductance Heat Pipes (VCHP) with a regulation loop, in order to minimize heating power consumptions and to allow temperature control on the detectors. The presentation of the ECLAIRs instrument TCS highlights its development, validation and verification with TCS full qualification before instrument delivery to the SVOM spacecraft.
