Schiaparelli prepares for thermal tests

In June and July 2015, Schiaparelli was subject to thermal vacuum and thermal balance tests. These tests measure the thermal performance of the spacecraft module under space conditions. In particular, they measure how the module behaves as the temperature changes – during these tests the outer shell of Schiaparelli reached temperatures ranging between -100°C and +30°C – in high vacuum (space-like) conditions, and how the module reaches thermal equilibrium. In addition, these measurements are used to verify the thermal model of the module.