Small satellite thermal modeling and design at USAFA: FalconSat-2 applications

The US Air Force Academy FalconSat program is one in which undergraduate cadets design, build, test, and operate satellites to carry Air Force and Department of Defense payloads for scientific missions. Currently, cadets are working on FalconSat-2, designed to carry the Micro Electro-Static Analyzer (MESA) payload that will investigate the morphology of plasma depletions in the ionosphere. The Engineering Model was completed and tested in April 2001, and cadets will construct the Qualification and Flight Models in the fall of 2001. To aid in the development of the satellite, behavioral models of various spacecraft subsystems have been created using MatLab and used to simulate projected operational modes of the satellite and the effects on major satellite subsystems. We require a detailed thermal model to aid in the development and testing of FalconSat-2. This paper will detail the development process undergone in creating the FalconSat-2 thermal model, will demonstrate how the model works, and will validate the results. Additionally, the paper will describe the thermal control solutions implemented for FalconSat-2 and how the model is used in the development process.