On August 31st, 2023 ESA approved the Critical Design and Manufacturing Readiness review (CDR/MRR) for the Lunar Dust-Resilient Louvered Radiator (LDRLR) device developed by ESR Space. The activity has been supported by Almatech SA, who are responsible for thermal and structural analyses, as well as providing the actuator. This represents the completion of the first 3 phases of work and approved the build of a breadboard system, intending to reach TRL 4 by end of Q2 2024.
The design at CDR is supported by the results of extensive breadboard testing. De-risking of key aspects of the design has been achieved by:
- Component level dusty-testing at ambient with simulant injection into sliding seal areas
- Cold characterisation of polymeric flexures to -150°C, including fatigue cycle checks
- Preliminary life-testing of lubricated bushings and seals for a total of > 90,000 rotations in an ambient vacuum environment
All testing proved successful and has been very helpful to inform and improve the design.
For more information, refer to the paper presented in July 2023 at ICES, held in Calgary, Canada.