Satellite Modular and Reconfigurable Thermal System - SMARTS

The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) goal of a "six-day" satellite is not achievable using the traditional flight thermal design paradigm. A drastically simpler paradigm must emerge that uses elemental (COTS-like) thermal control modules that can be rapidly and reliably linked to enable a wide range of missions irrespective of the satellite and the orbital environment. TA&T in collaboration with ATK Space and B&K Engineering propose a thermal control architecture consistent with the principles of responsive space. The proposed architecture is called the Satellite Modular And Reconfigurable Thermal System (SMARTS). The Phase II project will continue and finallize the SMARTS architectural trade studies and perform detailed thermal modeling of a representative ORS spacecraft using SMARTS. The analytical results will guide the design of a sub-scale test bed consisting of multiple panels and a radiator. Phase II will culminate with testing and model correlation using the SMARTS test bed.