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Spacecraft thermal control

J Meseguer, I Pérez-Grande and A Sanz-Andrés, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

 - provides background on the fundamentals of heat transfer which gives the reader a better understanding of the phenomenon and the way Space Thermal Control Systems work
 - merges the experience of the authors in teaching aerospace engineering topics with the experience as compilers of the ‘Spacecraft Thermal Control Design Data Handbook’ of the European Space Agency and the development of in orbit thermal control systems for Spanish and ESA Missions
 - the engineering approach is enhanced with a full section on Thermal Control Design, Analysis and Testing
 - examples are balanced between American and European missions, so the vision of the reader on existing systems is more complete

Thermal control systems are an essential element of spacecraft design, ensuring that all parts of the spacecraft remain within acceptable temperature ranges at all times. Spacecraft thermal control describes the fundamentals of thermal control design and reviews current thermal control technologies. The book begins with an overview of space missions and a description of the space environment, followed by coverage of the heat transfer processes relevant to the field. In the third part of the book, current thermal control technologies are described, and in the final part, design, analysis and testing techniques are reviewed.

ISBN 1 84569 996 3
ISBN-13: 978 1 84569 996 3
August 2012
412 pages  234 x 156mm  hardback  
£155.00 / US$265.00 / €185.00

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About the authors

Professor José Meseguer is a Full Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), and the Director of IDR/UPM, an Institute of UPM for Aerospace Research and Development activities; he has worked in several ESA/ESTEC contracts on thermal control (Spacecraft Thermal Control Design Data Handbook).

Dr. Pérez-Grande is Associate Professor of Thermodynamics at UPM, and the Head of the Thermal Control Division of IDR/UPM. She was responsible for the thermal control design and testing of the satellite UPM-Sat 1, as well as the thermal control of several instruments for ESA missions.

Professor Sanz-Andrés was the technical director of the satellite UPM-Sat 1, and is Full Professor of Aerospace Engineering at UPM; he is advisor in thermal and structural design in the development of several scientific space instruments. Member of the European Space Agency (ESA) “Physical Science Working Group” (PSWG).

Contents

The space mission
 - Introduction
 - Mission analysis and design
 - Elements of a space mission
 - Types of space missions
 - Spacecraft design: subsystems and payloads
 - References

Space environment
 - Introduction
 - Ground environment
 - Launch thermal environment
 - In-orbit thermal environment
 - Other in-orbit environmental aspects
 - References

Keplerian orbits
 - One-body problem
 - The orbit in space
 - Orbit perturbations
 - Lighting conditions
 - Types of orbits
 - References

Conductive heat transfer
 - Introduction
 - Fourier’s law
 - The heat diffusion equation
 - Boundary and initial conditions
 - Conductive shape factors
 - Numerical methods in heat conduction
 - References

Thermal radiation heat transfer
 - Nature of thermal radiation
 - Blackbody radiation
 - Properties of real surfaces
 - View factors
 - Radiation exchange between opaque, diffuse, and grey surfaces in an enclosure
 - References

Thermal control surfaces
 - Introduction
 - Thermal control coatings
 - Thermal coating degradation
 - References

Insulation systems
 - Introduction
 - Multilayer insulations
 - Foams
 - References

Radiators
 - Introduction
 - Passive cryogenic radiant coolers
 - Thermal efficiency
 - V-groove radiators
 - References

Louvers
 - Introduction
 - Description of louvers
 - Performance of louvers
 - MEMS louvers
 - References

Mechanical interfaces
 - Introduction
 - Thermal contact conductance
 - Thermal fillers
 - Thermal braids and straps
 - References

Heat pipes
 - Introduction
 - Capillarity
 - Working fluids
 - Wicks
 - Other capillary heat transfer designs
 - References

Phase change capacitors
 - Introduction
 - Characteristics of phase change materials
 - Materials data
 - Phase change material technology
 - The performance of phase change materials
 - References

Heaters
 - Introduction
 - Electrical heaters
 - Radioisotope heat sources
 - Heat switches
 - References

Pumped fluid loops
 - Introduction
 - Mechanically pumped single-phase fluid loops
 - Mechanically pumped two-phase fluid loops
 - References

Thermoelectric cooling
 - Introduction
 - Fundamentals
 - Space applications
 - References

Cryogenic systems
 - Introduction
 - Refrigerating systems
 - References

Thermal protection systems
 - Introduction
 - Ablative systems
 - Radiative systems
 - Other thermal protection techniques
 - References

Thermal control design
 - Design objectives and requirements
 - Design process
 - Load cases
 - References

Thermal mathematical models
 - Introduction
 - Thermal analysis software
 - Reference

Thermal control testing
 - Introduction
 - Test objectives
 - Model philosophy
 - Development tests
 - Thermal balance tests
 - Thermal vacuum tests
 - Test facilities
 - References

Conclusion