Through space exploration, we gain a new perspective to study Earth and the solar system. The number of missions based on the study of the surface and interior of the planets are increasing every year, and the aerobraking phenomena are inevitable when we are very close to a planet atmosphere. On the other hand, several missions to other planets have already exploited aerobraking, in order to...
Earth observation spacecrafts have seen a great interest and development in the past years and, still nowadays, it is one of the most prominent space markets thanks also to the miniaturization of the satellite platforms that allows to rapidly build constellations. In this presentation, the full development of a smallsats for Earth Observation is shown with a major focus on the thermal aspects....
FENNEC (FoldablE Newspace NextgEneration radiator for CubeSats) is a deployable radiator designed to meet the increasing demand for advanced thermal management systems in CubeSats and other SmallSats.
In the past, despite the typically higher power density of SmallSats compared to larger spacecraft, the external structural surfaces of such platforms have usually been sufficient for thermal...
Thales Alenia Space Italy is developing a Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) based on modular and scalable cells.
The reflective surface of LDR is a warp knitted metallic fabric, made of thin wires, able to assure a high electric conductivity.
The thermal characterization of the mesh presents challenges due to the inapplicability of standard methodologies. To address this, an equivalent 2D...
The CHESS (Constellation of High-Performance Exospheric Science Satellites) mission aims to enhance our understanding of the Earth’s upper atmosphere through direct measurements (species number density, altitude profiles, total electron content, ion population, and dynamics) using two twin 3U CubeSats: Pathfinder 1 & 2. The mission is managed by the student association EPFL Spacecraft Team,...
The Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, Engineering and Technology ([ZEA-1][1]) of the Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH ([FZJ][2]) develops and manufactures scientific-technical devices, systems and processes, that are not available on the market, with and for our scientific partners. The [SHIPAS][3] measuring device, an optical instrument for observing the mesosphere, is...
Based on the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technology mastered by APR Technologies, a Swedish SME, the core of APR's space products is a small-sized patented liquid EHD pump. This pump enables very deterministic and fast regulation of fluid flow, thereby controlling thermal conductance between thermal interfaces in active thermal control systems. Its main advantage is its operation across a wide...
The use case presented in this presentation is the Model Based Thermal Control Design (MBTCD). This activity is initiated in parallel to the DOTEP (Digitalization Of the space Thermal Engineering Process). DOTEP focuses on developing a prototype of a data model for thermal engineering processes from conceptual, to logical and physical data. However, MBTCD is focusing on the first layer...
The digital transformation of engineering processes for space system development is crucial for technological advancement and efficiency in the European Space sector. Our presentation explores Starion, DEKonsult, and OHB's approach to implementing innovative technologies as piloted by the European Space Agency with their Space System Ontology, with a focus on thermal engineering.
Initially,...
In modern times, the rapid growth in the volume of data and the needs for global connectivity are major technological challenges. At this point, satellite technology attempts to respond to various demands, ranging from guaranteeing internet access in remote regions to national security missions. The growing demand for satellite devices and the expectation regarding the tasks assigned to this...
This work presents the development of a software tool for view factor (VF) and radiative exchange factor (REF) calculations on ESATAN-TMS geometry files using Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT). VFs and REFs describe the radiation heat transfer between two surfaces. The software can use both the central processor unit (CPU) and the graphics processing unit (GPU) to perform the computations. It is...
The accurate temperature regulation of system or sub-system is a key enabler for space scientific missions, especially when observation instruments are considered. The thermal management of optical technologies are critical and may require a fine temperature control with accurate stability, and a homogeneous temperature field. Thermal buses composed by CCHPs and VCHPs propose high reliability...
A thermal model of Dawn Aerospace’s 4N / 10kNs-class propulsion system was created in Systema Thermica. The model includes the main components of the system and represents conductive and radiative couplings. Additionally, a thermal model in thermal desktop was requested.
The Thermal Desktop Model was derived from the original Thermica model by utilizing ESA’s TD TASverter. To accomplish...
Single evaporator heat loops (HL: LHP, CPL, etc.) are well-studied two-phase heat transfer devices, both theoretically and through many applications in spacecraft thermal management. Classical HL are well suited for operation with concentrated heat sources. However, collection of heat from a wide flat area by HL evaporator comes at a cost of using additional interfaces (saddles, embedded heat...
The use of a Phase Change Material Heat accumulator is becoming a first choice for thermal engineers. After a successful flight on-board Ariane 6 maiden flight, implementations in a future low-cost private European launcher and an hypersonic glider, the use of this passive heat absorber has become the final choice of trade-off with other thermal systems. In particular, the performance, reached...
Nowadays, testing remains a key milestone in the verification of the thermal control subsystem of any space project. TVAC tests have two main goals: the verification of the correct operation and survival of the system under thermal environmental conditions representative of the orbital scenario, and the reduction of the thermal model uncertainties by means of thermal balance tests and later...
The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) is a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The primary objective is to better understand the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s Magnetosphere. The primary payload is the Soft-Xray Imager (SXI) instrument, which is an x-ray telescope build by the...
Advanced Data Handling Architecture (ADHA) standard [1] (under development by ESA with industrial partners) is a standard for the on-board computers and data handling systems to assure interoperability and cost efficiency. It utilizes standardized plug-in electronic modules interconnected in larger enclosures called electronic boxes. A similar philosophy was adopted to an older standard called...
Passive thermal control of a satellite is typically performed using multilayer insulation (MLI) blankets. The current state-of-the-art method for MLI fixation makes use of stand-offs, which are glued to the spacecraft structure, and clip-washers, which fix the blankets on these stand-offs. This method is highly reliable and has a wide heritage, however it is time-consuming for several reasons:...
On 25 January 2024, the LISA project was formally adopted by ESA as the next L-Class Mission in the Cosmic Visio Programme. The LISA mission´s primary objective is to measure gravitational waves in the 0.1 mHz to 1 Hz frequency band using heterodyne laser interferometry. The Phase Measurement Subsystem (PMS) is a core payload instrument responsible for the phase extraction of the...
The solar absorptance () and emissivity () are important engineering parameters to evaluate the performance of thermal control sub-systems or power generation at solar panels. In the context of future lunar missions, it is important to investigate the effect Lunar Dust Simulants (LDS) contamination on thermo-optical properties and thus performance of thermal and power functional...
The proposed activity is focused on the rationalization of thermal simulators (here for operations) purpose based on existing thermal analysis model and tools. The idea is the re use of the thermal mathematical model all along the lifetime of the satellite, i.e. from the early design, the thermal analysis and control, the thermal tests on vacuum testing and the operations.
The idea is to...
Adjustable Support Structure for Optical Sensors, ASSOSS - Thermal System
ASSOSS is a novel structure designed to provide structural support and efficient thermal management for optical space sensors, developed in a joint venture between Space Structures GmbH, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, and Fraunhofer IAP. This innovative project focuses on integrating ultra-lightweight materials,...
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission is the first scientific space mission to detect and study gravitational waves from sources such as supermassive black hole binaries and intermediate mass black holes. Through a constellation of three spacecrafts orbiting the Sun and forming an accurate equilateral triangle in space of 2.5 million km long, these LISA spacecrafts exchange...
High heat-rejecting technology becomes increasingly necessary as communication capacity grows for the next generation of geostationary communication satellites. Engineering Test Satellite 9 (ETS-9) is being developed by JAXA to demonstrate bus technology for new high-throughput communication satellites and is scheduled to be launched in fiscal 2025.
The main technologies to be newly...
Unlike traditional satellite companies, which often develop custom-build single purpose or very low volume satellites thermal control systems tailored to each mission, our approach at Loft Orbital involves the use of standardized platforms with generic thermal control systems. This approach is key for Loft value proposition which is driven by speed to orbit, cost and risk reductions.
By...
The thermal design of equipment and space platforms is a difficult task due to the large variability of the thermal conditions during the orbit and the strict constraints imposed by other subsystems. In the past years, several strategies have been studied to meet these constraints while reducing the signature of the thermal control subsystem. These techniques encompass different algorithms...
Optimization algorithms for space thermal engineering play a crucial role in enhancing the performance and reliability of spacecraft thermal systems. A student from the University of Nice is exploring this topic in collaboration with Dorea Technology by utilizing optimization software tools such as Genetik+, developed by CNES, and GEMSEO, developed by IRT Saint Exupéry. The...
Microchannel heat exchangers (MCHXs) have been the focus of intense study in the academic sector for around 20 years, with an escalation in recent times due to the severe heat management issues associated with current and emerging applications in technology areas such as energy production and space. The space sector, in particular, is implementing thermodynamic cycles in what can be considered...
Extruded Aluminum grooved heat pipes are the most widely used components for the thermal management of spacecrafts, including high performance, high reliability level with large space flight heritage and market availability. This technology is designed and optimized to operate in micro-gravity and the gravity effects on Earth and during lunar or planetary missions significantly affect the...
Heat pipes are conventionally used for spacecraft thermal control. A well-designed heat pipe provides a reliable thermal link that transports large quantities of heat at nearly isothermal conditions, varying its working temperature and pressure within its design range to adapt to the conditions of the heat source and sink. However, heaters are often used in the cold non-operational phase to...
European Space Thermal Engineering Workshop 2024
by Adeeb Nazeeruddin, Thermal System Engineer at Beyond Gravity Switzerland
Thermal design and analysis of FLEX spacecraft
The FLEX spacecraft is part of The Earth Explorer - Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) ESA mission, which will map vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic...
Optical instruments in space payload systems face challenges in maintaining minimal temperature gradients to prevent optical bench deformation, which can impair optical paths due to component sensitivity. The heat generated by payload components and processor units adds to the overall thermal load. To address this, a multi-processor system can distribute generated power, or heat, by shifting...
Designing efficient cooling devices is crucial in a multitude of applications. Although advanced cooling technologies have existed for decades, there is still a lack of more efficient heat dissipation methods, especially for space applications where thermal management devices must dissipate heat in reduced gravity. Flow boiling presents here a first significant improvement over traditional...
The Moon presents an extremely harsh environment for robotic and human exploration, with diurnal temperature cycles spanning nearly 300°C (-150 to 120°C). Active thermal control is widely regarded as a key technology to enable surface assets to survive the lunar night. We report on progress in the development of a compact and scalable, actively shuttered radiator, designed to be resilient to...
Developing an understanding of thermal interface conductance is critical to managing an accurate spacecraft thermal balance. However, the real performance of assembled interfaces is often not well understood until the systems have been built and tested in vacuum. To facilitate more predictive design for space applications, Carbice Corporation has developed a suite of modeling tools that...
A Python-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed to enhance the system management of ESATAN-TMS thermal models through a hierarchical structure. This innovative tool enables users to create and modify model structures seamlessly, perform various tasks at both system and unit levels, and efficiently import/export tasks. Additionally, it facilitates the establishment of a...
Over the last decades, several missions have successfully landed on the Mars Surface, placing scientific instrumentation onboard landers and rovers in different individual landing sites. However, a qualitative leap in “in-situ” climate science on the red planet could happen via larger-scale observations. MarsConnect is an INTA project that aims to develop microprobes with scientific...
With the growing interest in lunar missions during the last few years, the demand for technologies which allow hardware to survive the extreme conditions of the lunar night has increased. One promising approach is to enable high performance bi-directional thermal control in space applications.
Lunar Outpost EU has continued the development of the active thermal switch (ATS). The compact...
When dealing with thermal simulation, the time constraint represents a significant challenge, particularly with the rise of thermal digital twins. To address this, an approach relying on the linearization of the radiative component of the heat transfer equation is being investigated as a potential replacement for the Runge-Kutta scheme. A student from the University of Nice, in collaboration...
The NUSES (Neutrino and Seismic Electromagnetic Signals) is a mission to explore new scientific and technological pathways for future space-based detectors which aims to advance the study of high and low-energy cosmic radiations using two primary payloads: Zire, which detects gamma rays and charged particles, and Terzina, a telescope designed to test new observation techniques for studying...
Spacecraft antennas are always directly exposed to the space environment. Suitable choice of materials and processes is the basis of successful performance.
Active Antennas with very high dissipative units have to be thermally controlled in order to guarantee that the temperatures of all items will remain below the upper limits with appropriate margins. One option is to use suitable...
This presentation will go through a cubsat design workflow, from the system level power system design and coupling it with our detailed thermal model directly using the FMI standard. We will show how the orbit/mission planning can be imported from GMAT. And finally we will optimize the whole system with a multi objective design study focusing on reducing mass, but making sure our power...
The spacecraft design activity usually involves the collaboration of many different teams with various process, methods and tools. Despite the universality of thermal data (temperatures, fluxes, …), every thermal analysis software have their own specificities, which makes the exchange of thermal data often challenging.
Besides data format standardization initiatives (ECSS, STEP-TAS, …),...
Optical Solar Reflectors (OSRs) constitute the physical interface between radiator panels and outer space and allow for radiative cooling of the spacecraft. The performance of an OSR is defined mainly by two Thermo-Optical (T.O.) parameters: solar absorptance α (the lower the better) and IR emittance (the higher the better). The market of OSRs is dominated by OSR quartz tiles, and by...
Pycanha is a new open-source tool designed for thermal analysis, utilizing the lumped parameter method. Developed primarily in C++ and Python, Pycanha combines the strengths of both languages: critical components, such as data structures and solvers, are implemented in C++ for performance optimization, while the user interface is facilitated through Python for ease of use.
Pycanha has been...
Ansys Thermal Desktop (TD) is software for heat transfer analysis, thermal radiation, environmental heating, and fluid flow design. One of the features that make it unique is its comprehensive two-phase capabilities, along with an Advanced Design Module. This module supports parametric studies, design optimization, and model correlation making Thermal Desktop a versatile tool for component and...
The oscillating heat pipe (OHP) is an emerging passive heat transport technology for satellite thermal management. The OHP is similar to other heat pipes in that it uses a saturated fluid to transport heat, however its operational mechanism relies on bubble nucleation in a capillary channel to pump liquid and vapor between the heat sources and heat sinks. This design enables the OHP to be...
ESATAN-TMS provides an advanced thermal modelling environment for the thermal analysis of spacecraft and launch vehicles. The suite is continually being enhanced to meet current and future requirements of space projects, and to support the specific needs of thermal engineers. This presentation will focus on the latest development to be included in the coming ESATAN-TMS 2025.
Two-phase cooling systems are relying on the high efficiency of the fluid phase change to store and transport the heat (latent heat). The operation of these systems needs to control the saturation conditions with very high accuracy and without discrepancy during the lifetime of the cooling system. This lifetime can be from 5 years up to 20 years or more, including storage and operation time....
Radian is a thermal analysis software conceived to provide agility to engineers, both at modelling and computing processes. Our software is accessible through a regular web browser and counts on a scalable network of computing resources in the cloud. Thermal analyses are supported by the Databank, a catalogue of satellite components and other reusable entities. Thermal models are based on a...
This presentation addresses the main architecture and technological investigations performed in the frame of a new power supply for solid state power amplifiers compatible with baseplate reference temperature of 85°C. This power supply module has been studied by Thales Alena Space Belgium R&I department, supported by an ESA contract (ESA AO/1-10209/20/NL/CLP).
Main mechanical and thermal...
The Particle Environment Package onboard the JUICE mission is designed to measure neutral and charged particles in the Jupiter system. Being a particle spectrometer, its temperature should be higher than the JUICE spacecraft to minimize contamination by outgassing.
Therefore, several back-out periods with nominal and redundant instrument heater turned on are foreseen during the 8 year long...
The current trend in the space industry is to create less expensive satellites in shorter periods of time. In such context, space systems thermal analyses require dealing with models with different levels of fidelity. Detailed thermal mathematical model (TMM) can imply high computational cost due to the complexity of the orbital environment of the missions, but also due to the many iterations...
The behavior of optical instruments on a satellite performing observation missions is critical, especially for scientific purposes where measurements stability is essential for data validity. However, accurately characterizing the impact of the environment on lenses is complex.
Conducting robust and accurate Structural Thermal and Optical Performance (STOP) analysis can be challenging and...
