Modeling Heat Loads on a Satellite in Orbit
In spacecraft and satellite design, ensuring that temperature-sensitive components — such as sensors, cameras, and solar panels — stay within desired temperature ranges can be challenging, but it is necessary, as certain thermal gradients can lead to structural deformations. Numerical modeling aids in performing realistic preflight testing during the design process.
In this archived webinar, we provide an introduction to performing spacecraft thermal analyses in the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The presentation includes a demonstration of how to compute the solar, albedo, and Earth infrared radiative heat loads on a spacecraft in orbit. The demonstration also includes discussion of how these loads are then used to compute the temperature fields over time. At the end, we briefly highlight three models that you can use to set up a thermal analysis of a satellite in orbit.
Suggested Resources
- Explore the models:
- Learn about the Heat Transfer Module