Preliminary Thermal Analysis Tool for CubeSats

Abstract

Translate Article

This paper presents the design and validation of a GUI thermal tool intended for the preliminary thermal analysis of CubeSats with both single and multi-node methodology approaches to enable fast assessment of the spacecraft thermal response due to numerous orbital scenarios. The main objective is to save both time for building a thermal model and the high cost of using a thermal analysis software license, which includes orbital parameter propagation, such as THERMAL DESKTOP. The results are verified using COMSOL Multiphysics and Thermal Desktop simulations and validated with experimental measurements from the Turk-Sat 3U Nanosatellite to confirm the tool's accuracy and reliability. Usage of this tool gives quick predictions for the CubeSats' temperature field with a deviation percentage of 1.03% in the hot case and 11% in the cold case relative to TURK-SAT 3U Nanosatellite measurements.