Satellite Subsystems » Mechanical » Model Environment AnalysisModel Environment AnalysisMechanicalSatellite Subsystems

Model Enivronment Analysis involves simulating the operation of the satellite in orbit, in various physical domains. This allows us to detect potential problems in design and helps to prevent unforseen problems during and after launch.

Thermal Analysis
In orbit, BLUEsat will be susceptible to a mutitude of harsh space conditions. The thermal environment is one such condition that affects the onboard hardware and structural performance of the spacecraft.

Analysis was conducted to determine the temperature distributions of BLUEsat, over complete possible orbital profiles, to determine the level of Thermal Control System (TCS) design required for implementation.

Battery module's thermal gradient due to lower orbital heating on Side 1

Using the software packages CATIA V5R10, Msc Patran, Msc Nastran, SINDA / ATM and NEVADA, running on our Sun Microsystems SunBlade 2000 workstation, a structurally representative thermal model of BLUEsat was created and analysed. Results showed that an optimal onboard temperature range of 0- to 20-degrees Celsius would be achieved with a 90-degree beta angle sun-synchronous orbit at 800km altitude.

The thermal analysis provided information such as solar panel stress due to cyclic thermal expansion and contraction, TCS testing of the battery casings and transient heat flow paths over complete orbits.

Satellite SubsystemsMechanicalModel Environment AnalysisAuthor: Scott Hansman
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Last Modified: August 28 2005 10:43:58.