The Thermal Design and Analysis of the CanX-4/-5 and NEMO-AM Nanosatellites

The main appeal of small satellites is that they are capable of fulfilling many of the same tasks as larger satellites, with lower development and launch costs. However, their smaller size can impose limitations on many of their systems, including their thermal control systems, which are often required to be passive and simple. This work summarizes the design and analysis of the thermal control systems for two small satellite missions, CanX-4/-5 and NEMO-AM. The development of a finite-difference thermal model using a commercial software package is described, followed by an overview of the analysis performed and the thermal control strategies employed in the satellites. The final analysis predictions show that the satellite temperatures for both missions were maintained within their required limits.M.A.S