Measurement of the Quasistatic Component of Microaccelerations Using a Convection Sensor onboard a Satellite

The problem of the interpretation of measurements made by means of a convection sensor is considered. The sensor is a cubic chamber filled by a viscous fluid (gas). Fixed and unequal temperatures are maintained on two opposite sides of the cube; the other sides are perfect heat conductors. Two differential thermocouples are placed inside the chamber to measure the temperature difference at two pairs of fixed points. The sensor is mounted aboard the Earth's satellite. Mathematical models of various degrees of complexity are proposed which describe processes of heat and mass transfer under the action of a quasistatic component of microaccelerations. The results of mathematical simulation of the data of sensor thermocouples presenting a response to the real quasistatic component of microaccelerations which took place aboard the Mirstation are given. It is shown that under usual conditions of an orbital mission the sensor presents a linear low-frequency filter. By combining the data of several identical sensors, tightly arranged and oriented in a certain way, it is possible to measure low-frequency components of the angular acceleration of the satellite and linear microaccelerations at the point of the sensor position.