R. Schlitt
ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH a company of Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Postfach 10 59 09 28 00 Bremen 1, W. Germany
R. Meyer
ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH a company of Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Postfach 10 59 09 28 00 Bremen 1, W. Germany
R. Giovannini
AEROSPATIALE Division Systemes Strategiques et Spatiaux B.P. 99, 06322 Cannes, France
G. Cluzet
AEROSPATIALE Division Systemes Strategiques et Spatiaux B.P. 99, 06322 Cannes, France
The paper describes the large heat pipe system developed for a new generation of direct broadcasting satellites of the TV-SAT/TDF family. The system consists of 88 axial grooved heat pipes of the aluminium/ammonia type. After summarizing the design and development phases, in-orbit data of 3 satellites are being reviewed and compared in detail. The paper concludes with the discussion of the "Lessons Learnt" aspect of the program.