The effect of the PCB solder mask type of the hull outer surface of the CubeSat 3U on its thermal regime

Abstract

Abstract Rather simple methods to measure the absorbed solar radiation coefficients and IR radiation, as well as optical coefficients measured by these methods for the construction materials of microsatellites and PCB coated with different solder masks are presented. The calculating results of the satellite’s thermal conditions for different PCB solder masks at the satellite outer surface are given. The thermal model is implemented on the orbital motion and insolation calculating algorithm basis, which developed in Matlab Simulink. A CubeSat 3U type satellite with foldable solar panels is considered as an example.