Thermal shroud being lowered over the Gaia Payload Module
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Date: 19 March 2013
Satellite: Gaia
Depicts: Gaia Flight Model Payload Module
Location: Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL), Belgium
Copyright: Astrium SAS
In preparation for Thermal Balance and Thermal Vacuum (TB/TV) testing of the Gaia Flight Model Payload Module (PLM) at Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL), Belgium, the vacuum chamber thermal shroud is being lowered over the PLM. In the base of the vacuum chamber is a mechanical and thermal representation of the Service Module (SVM) interface, on which the PLM has been installed.
During the TB/TV testing, liquefied gases will be pumped through the shroud to simulate the cold of deep space.
Last Update: 1 September 2019