A Thermal Investigation and Comparative Study of the Foresail Missions
2019 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Cube Satellite (CubeSat) launches have been on the rise since its first launch in2003. This popularity is mainly due to faster design process and lower launch costs.However, most CubeSats are launched into Low Earth Orbits (LEOs), with nomissions to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTOs). However, many mission areplanned for the next half-decade.A major challenge to launch a CubeSat into a GTO is the thermal environmentof the higher altitude orbits. These orbits are significantly colder due to reducedheating from Earth’s planetary and albedo radiations, and a possibility for longereclipses due to the eccentricities of GTOs.A thermal investigation of the thermal environment was done using the Foresailmissions as examples, as the missions currently are set to fly the first missions toPolar LEO. The trajectories for the second Foresail mission are being evaluated,with the GTO being a strong contender. This thermal investigation is done througha comparative study of the two missions. The thermal effects of a few missionspecific scenarios were also evaluated.This provided a holistic thermal design of the first Foresail mission. A region specificthermal solution for the battery was analyzed. The various mission scenarios andtheir comparisons with the LEO mission, also formed a basis of the feasibility ofvarious situations on the second mission. Moreover, the results, in part assessedthe thermally feasibility to launch a 3U CubeSat into a GTO.The results showed GTOs show larger magnitude of variation of thermal loads ascompared to LEOs. However, these variations are more gradual due to the largerorbital periods. A 3U CubeSat can be launched into both, the LEO and GTOenvironments with passive thermal control. The properties of the thermal coatsvary slightly. However, it is not possible to passively control the CubeSat if theeclipse occurred at the aphelion of the orbit.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019. , p. 65
Keywords [en]
Thermal, Space, CubeSat, Cube Satellite
National Category
Aerospace Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-75831OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-75831DiVA, id: diva2:1348295
External cooperation
Aalto University
Subject / course
Student thesis, at least 30 credits
Educational program
Space Engineering, master's level (120 credits)
Presentation
2019-05-28, D1, Rymdcampus, E10, Kiruna, 02:35 (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
2019-09-202019-09-042019-09-20Bibliographically approved