Thermal and Mechanical Design

• Published in: Hyperspectral Satellites and System Design Vol. 1; pp. 357 - 394
• Main Author: Qian, Shen-En
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom CRC Press 2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Pulse Tube; Infrared Detector Array; Active Thermal Control; Cold Radiator; Stirling Cryocoolers; Passive Radiators; Cold Box; Thermal Design; Heat Pipes; Hyperspectral Satellites; Launch Vehicle; Heat Loads; Hyperspectral Imager; Thermal Control; SWIR Detector; Optical Unit; Solar Reflector; Proximity Electronics; Optical Head; Detector Array; Optical Bench; Spaceborne Hyperspectral Sensors; Warm Radiator; VNIR Region; Passive Thermal Control
• ISBN: 9780367217907; 0367217902
• DOI: 10.1201/9780429266201-8

Thermal and mechanical design is crucial within the overall system design of a hyperspectral satellite. It is important to maintain temperatures of both mechanical and electrical components within certain ranges because most material properties vary with temperature. The thermal design is for the purpose of maintaining all the components and subsystems of the satellite and its payloads within their required temperature limits throughout all phases of the mission. Mechanical design deals with the structural and mechanism subsystems, which supports all other satellite subsystems and attaches the satellite to the launch vehicle. The mechanical design must satisfy all strength and stiffness requirements of the satellite and its interface to the launch vehicle. This chapter starts with the basics of thermal and mechanical design. It then describes the thermal environment of hyperspectral satellites, followed by the description of passive and active thermal control technologies. It provides a detailed thermal design analysis and shows the thermal subsystem designs of three hyperspectral satellites. Structural analysis and consideration are discussed. Finally, the chapter selects three well-known spaceborne hyperspectral sensors as examples to describe the whole process of the thermal and structure design.