Thermal environment and design considerations of the Foresail-2 satellite mission

The thermal design of small satellite missions is critical for ensuring the performance and longevity of onboard instruments. This thesis focuses on the thermal design of Foresail-2, a 6U CubeSat mission to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), specifically addressing the thermal challenges associated with the magnetometer located at the end of a long boom featured on the satellite. The objective of this research is to estimate the orbital loads, study its effects and develop an effective thermal control strategy to maintain the frame, boom and magnetometer temperature within an optimal operational range throughout the mission duration. A steady state thermal analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of the GTO environment on the satellite structure under different operational scenarios and design conditions. To achieve the desired thermal control, several potential regulation strategies are investigated, including passive thermal coatings, insulation materials, and active cooling methods. Furthermore, thermal simulations are performed to predict the temperature profiles and gradients within the boom and magnetometer assembly, enabling the identification of potential hotspots or areas prone to thermal stress using ANSYS software package. These findings contribute to the implementation of thermal design modifications and the optimization of the configuration of the boom and magnetometer to enhance thermal performance. The results of this thesis contribute to the development of a robust thermal design for Foresail-2 mission satellite. Moreover, the methodologies and insights gained from this research can be extended to other CubeSat missions with similar thermal requirements and constraints