SAX: Structure Subsystem

The Structure is the framework designed to hold all the Spacecraft Subsystems and the Science Instruments.

The Structure consists of three basic functional subassemblies:

Shade Module

The Shade Structure encloses the Payload Module.
It is made of Aluminum sandwich panels and provides support for thermal blankets and mirrors ensuring the necessary fields of view for the Science Instrument Detectors and Attitude Control Sensors.

Payload Module

The Payload Module houses the Science Instrument Detectors and the Star Tracker Sensors. Its principal components are made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) with high elastic modulus and low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion. The Payload Module consists of:

• Optical Bench and HP-GSPC Detector Support
  respectively a hollow box and a floor made of sandwich panels with an Aluminum core and CFRP sheets.
• Concentrator Tubes
  CFRP tubes with Titanium flanges at their extremities for holding the Mirror Units and the Concentrator Detectors.
  The tube inner surface is covered with an Aluminum sheet to prevent both outgassing and moisture release contamination. The upper end of each tube (Mirror Unit side) is closed by an on-orbit deployable shutter released by thermal cutters as for the Solar Array panels.

Service Module

The Service Module houses all the Spacecraft Subsystems and the Science Instrument electronic boxes. Its major components are:

• Aluminium honeycomb platforms and panels;
• The thrust cone made of corrugated Aluminium sheets;
• The ATLAS I launch vehicle adapter ring.

This file was last modified on Wednesday, 02-Sep-1998 17:28:58 CEST by Mauro Orlandini