Active Thermal Tile (ATT) System for Operationally Responsive Space

ABSTRACT: Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) is a key military capability aimed at enabling strategic and tactical use of space. To achieve these objectives, the design, assembly and deployment of unmanned spacecraft supporting DoD space missions must be radically overhauled to resemble a modular production and integration process. One significant focus of the current ORS need is to address thermal management systems. In this Air Force Phase II SBIR, IST proposes the continued development and validation of a reconfigurable, versatile and rapidly installable thermal control system (TCS). IST"s active thermal tile (ATT) TCS is designed to be highly compatible with current and future ORS platforms, has built-in failsafe electronics, is robust to launch conditions, and efficiently and effectively performs thermal transfer. Not only will the ATT system meet the operational and performance requirements set forth by the ORS office, it will eliminate the need for specific thermal analysis and design of each component interface, in-series development with other systems, design of unique spacecraft-level TCS, and detail verification. The proposed Phase II effort will focus on completion of the IST ATT system such that cost, form factor and architecture versatility for the ORS mission are optimized. BENEFIT: The ATT technology represents a fundamental building block for future DOD small tactical satellites, whose use is expected to increase drastically in coming years as the US military moves towards more responsive and/or expendable space assets. The ATT system is also applicable to traditional military and commercial satellites as well as"lean"satellites, or, satellites which embody a semi-modular design. Terrestrial applications for the ATT system are numerous and include power electronics, solar thermal energy conversion and consumer electronics.