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BURAN Orbital

Spaceship Airframe

Creation

Features of Antennas Installation on BURAN Orbital Spaceship

Kornilov V.A.
Features of antennas’ installation on BURAN Orbiter are surveyed. Results of working-out are displayed. Measures on elimination of detected faults are offered.

Application of various radio electronic systems and complexes, operating in a wide range of frequencies (CW, MW and VHF) in BURAN design has demanded to solve a number of complicated tasks on arrangement and installation of more then 40 antennas different by their design, overall dimensions and functionality.

The antenna should ensure normal operation of onboard radio and television complexes, systems of onboard measurements and radio aids of the motion control system. The necessity to preserve the aerodynamic contours of Orbiter airframe and maintenance of antennas functionality at and after exposure to high temperatures action which occurs on the surface at aerodynamic heating at the descent stage, has stipulated application of antennas of flush-mounted type operating under the heat protective coating. At development of the airframe design the installation of antennas was provided during Orbiter assembly.

Absence of experience of antennas development and maintenance at such installation and necessity of unconditional provision of high quality of their performance have demanded a large scope of experimental works.

Antennas preliminary work-out and set-up were conducted by their developers on special panels imitating separate fragments of Orbiter body with the heat protective coating and set locations.

The accomplished works have confirmed the compliance of all antennas performances with the set requirements, except for antennas radio beacon system operating in two-centimeter range. Influence of heat protective coating on antenna pattern was revealed in this case. A radio wave interference occurred on this radiation frequency, which was multiple the width of the heat protective coating and that resulted in numerous falls and irregularity of the directional diagram.

By results of theoretical and experimental researches the additional coating out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic of width of 4 mm was deposited on metal surface of the airframe body in location of installation of the RBS antenna. This coating ensured absorption of repeatedly reflected radio waves and due to this eliminated the defects of directional diagrams.

The experience of onboard systems creation and their installation on BURAN Orbiter can be used at designing of aerospace systems.

The essential contribution to solution of problems of onboard antennas installation was made by employees of NPO MOLNIYA Mr.: Vishnev V.N. and Kulakov V.I.