1-Node Orbital Thermal Modeler

An engineering tool to solve the 1-node energy balance equation for a satellite payload, including orbital mechanics and transient analysis.

1. Payload Properties

Payload Name

Mass

Specific Heat, C_p

2. Orbital Parameters

Orbital Altitude

Max Eclipse Duration (minutes)

3. Thermal Optical Properties

Effective, area-weighted average properties.

Average Solar Absorptivity (α)

Average IR Emissivity (ε)

Avg. Area Facing Sun (A_sun)

Avg. Area Facing Earth (A_earth)

Total Radiating Area (A_rad)

4. Analysis Cases & Loads

Hot Case

Internal Power (W)

Mount Temp

Cold Case

Internal Power (W)

Mount Temp

Conduction Coupling, G_c (W/K)

5. Operational Limits

Limit Units:

Max Operating Temp

Min Operating Temp

6. Environmental Constants

Solar Constant, G_s (W/m²)

Albedo Factor, a

Earth IR Flux, E_ir (W/m²)

Analysis Results

Output Units:

Transient Simulation Results (Last Orbit)

Hot Case

Max Temp

--.- °

Limit

--.- °

Hot Margin

--.- °

Cold Case

Min Temp

--.- °

Limit

--.- °

Cold Margin

--.- °

Orbital Temperature Simulation

Key Parameters

Orbital Period: -- min
Sunlit Duration: -- min
Eclipse Duration: -- min
View Factor to Earth: --
Thermal Time Constant (τ): -- min

External Heat Loads (Peak)

Q_solar: -- W
Q_albedo: -- W
Q_earth_ir: -- W

Energy Balance at Transient Peaks

At Max Temp (Hot)
Q_In (Env + Power)	-- W
Q_Out (Rad + Cond)	-- W
Q_Net (mCpdT/dt)	-- W

At Min Temp (Cold)
Q_In (Env + Power)	-- W
Q_Out (Rad + Cond)	-- W
Q_Net (mCpdT/dt)	-- W

1-Node Orbital Thermal Modeler

1. Payload Properties

2. Orbital Parameters

3. Thermal Optical Properties

4. Analysis Cases & Loads

Hot Case

Cold Case

5. Operational Limits

6. Environmental Constants

Analysis Results

Transient Simulation Results (Last Orbit)

Hot Case

Cold Case

Orbital Temperature Simulation

Key Parameters

External Heat Loads (Peak)

Energy Balance at Transient Peaks

Max Hot Steady-State

Min Cold Steady-State