The on-board computer in diagnosis of satellite power unit

Diagnosis of a space thermoemission power unit incorporating a Topaz type reactor converter is hindered by the low potential of the measurement system. The lack of information is restored by computing from the measurement date. Examples of dynamic mode diagnosis with restoration of information on the field temperature is given. The power unit diagnosis algorithms are implemented in the onboard computer whose power is about 200,000 operations per second. Memory and computing requirements are determined from algorithms of different diagnosis degrees. Results in study of the necessary computer component redundancy are given for different models of system degradation. The redundancy level should insure that the nucleus of the computer system with a minimally necessary 4K-words memory remains in operation after three years into the mission.