System requirements of Starprobe thermal shield

Abstract

The mission of the Starprobe Spacecraft is to do in situ exploration of the solar corona to four solar radii. A thermal shield is required to protect the spacecraft equipment from a 3000 sun incident solar energy level caused by this close approach to the sun. The thermal shield requirements discussed include configuration, material requirements, temperature level, penetrations, outgassing and mass loss, and contamination as referenced to spacecraft mission parameters. Further, the size of the spacecraft will be limited by the space transport system orbiter payload bay dimensions, thus defining the upper limit of the relative sizes and locations of the heat shield and spacecraft equipment.