Thermal design and analysis of a geostationary platform: thermal performance tool development and innovative solutions benefit evaluation

In an interconnected world where technology progresses at an incessant pace, the aerospace sector is experiencing a consistent and rapid growth. The rising demand for satellites for everyday activities such as navigation and communication, as well as for application like science, earth observation, and defense, is driving the industry towards more efficient design, assembly, integration, and testing to meet these demands. In particular, the thermal control system is a crucial part of any satellite, heavily influenced by specific mission requirements. Effective design and optimization of this system ensure the creation of reliable and long-lasting products, benefiting the entire production chain. This thesis, in collaboration with the DONI department of Thales Alenia Space, aims to evaluate the maximum thermal power dissipation of a typical geostationary satellite using ESATAN-TMS® thermal analysis software. Additionally, it involves developing a Matlab® tool based on data from the analysis to scale and apply this information to other satellites produced by the company. The tool is intended to provide to the user quick preliminary information with minimal effort, assisting in the initial thermal design of the satellite’s radiative areas. Furthermore, the thesis explores the potential of innovative materials like pyrolytic graphite to replace traditional materials and components. The goal is to assess whether these materials can enhance thermal performance and to evaluate the justification for further research investment, including both thermal analysis of more detailed models and physical testing in a thermal-vacuum chamber to validate and correlate them.