FORWARD SKIRT THERMOCONDITIONING

Electrical equipment in the third stage forward skirt area is thermally conditioned by a heat trans­fer system, using “cold plates” on which electronic components are mounted, and through which cool­ant fluid circulates. Coolant is pumped through the system from the IU and returned. Heat from elec­trical equipment attached to the cold plates is dis­sipated by conduction through the mounting feet and the cold plates to the fluid. Refer to the Instru­

The forward skirt area is purged with gaseous ni­trogen to minimize fire and explosion hazards while propellants are loaded or stored in the stage. Gas­eous nitrogen is supplied and remotely controlled from a ground source.

Ordnance Systems

The ordnance systems perform stage separation, retrorocket ignition, ullage control rocket ignition and jettison, and range safety functions.