Thermal Management Systems

From the smallest satellite to the most complicated human rated spacecraft, thermal is seen as an enabling function to a vehicle. Temperatures must be maintained within design limits, whether those be cryogenic systems for science instruments, or comfortable shirt sleeve operations temperatures for crew missions. As missions evolve and waste energy rejection becomes more of a demand, NASA seeks novel solutions, components, and system design techniques, for both active and passive thermal systems. Such solutions participate in the completion of the thermal cycle which includes waste energy acquisition, transport, rejection/storage, and insulation. The intended goal for any advanced thermal development is to enable new mission concepts while maintaining minimal impact to thermal system mass, volume, and power to maintain a spacecraft at specific temperature limits.