Spacecraft Thermal Control

Thermal control systems are an essential element of spacecraft design, ensuring that all parts of the spacecraft remain within acceptable temperature ranges at all times. Spacecraft thermal control describes the fundamentals of thermal control design and reviews current thermal control technologies. The book begins with an overview of space missions and a description of the space environment, followed by coverage of the heat transfer processes relevant to the field. In the third part of the book, current thermal control technologies are described, and in the final part, design, analysis and testing techniques are reviewed. - Provides background on the fundamentals of heat transfer which gives the reader a better understanding of the phenomenon and the way Space Thermal Control Systems work - Merges the experience of the authors in teaching aerospace engineering topics with the experience as compilers of the 'Spacecraft Thermal Control Design Data Handbook' of the European Space Agency and the development of in orbit thermal control systems for Spanish and ESA Missions - The engineering approach is enhanced with a full section on Thermal Control Design, Analysis and Testing