Nasa Ground Cooling System

​NASA's Ground Cooling Systems are integral to maintaining the thermal stability of spacecraft and their components during ground operations, prior to launch, and immediately after landing. These systems ensure that onboard equipment remains within operational temperature ranges, preventing overheating and preserving the integrity of sensitive instruments.​

Space Shuttle Orbiter Ground Cooling:

During pre-launch operations, the Space Shuttle Orbiter's avionics and payloads generate heat that must be dissipated to prevent equipment damage. While in orbit, this heat is expelled via onboard radiators located on the payload bay doors. However, when the shuttle is on the ground, the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Ground Coolant System (GCS) assumes this role. The GCS removes heat through an onboard heat exchanger whenever the vehicle is powered up on the launch pad. Additionally, during launch, the GCS chills the vehicle's onboard loop sufficiently to provide thermal capacitance for cooling until orbit is achieved. ​

International Space Station (ISS) Cooling Systems:

The ISS employs sophisticated thermal control systems to manage the heat generated by its systems and experiments. The External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) uses ammonia loops to collect heat from Interface Heat Exchangers and external electronic equipment mounted on cold plates, transporting it to radiators where it is rejected into space. Before the EATCS was fully operational, the Early External Active Thermal Control System (EEATCS) served as a temporary solution, providing heat rejection capabilities for the U.S. Laboratory Interface Heat Exchangers. ​

Advanced Cooling Technologies:

NASA continues to develop advanced thermal control technologies to support various missions. For small satellites, the Active Thermal Architecture (ATA) system offers high-power thermal rejection and zonal temperature control, essential for advanced missions in deep space, heliophysics, earth science, and communications. The ATA includes integrated heaters and a PID-based control algorithm to dynamically adjust the satellite's thermal rejection and zonal temperature control based on payload and mission parameters. ​NASA

These ground cooling systems and advanced technologies are crucial for ensuring the reliability and safety of spacecraft during various mission phases, from pre-launch preparations to in-orbit operations.