The thermal regions of the NPU “Topax”: Calculated basis and experimental confirmation

Conclusions

Flight tests of two production models of the NPU “Topaz” confirmed the correspondence of the thermal state of the NPU assembly to the formulated limits throughout prestart preparation, launch, and orbital flight. Thus was shown the well-established basic accuracy of derived solutions of heat shielding and the methodology of experimental operation of thermophysical modes as well as the effectiveness of developed calculational methods. It is especially worth emphasizing that established methods of calculation, refined through testing of NPU models, are highly accurate for the definition of the thrmal state of an NPU underground-based and flight conditions. It is advisable to make use of these results of flight tests for the second generation of the “Topaz” thermal emissivity NPU.