A spacecraft includes an additive manufacturing (A/M) subsystem and one or both of a thermal control arrangement and a contamination control arrangement. The A/M subsystem includes an A/M tool, feedstock and a workpiece and is configured to additively manufacture the workpiece using material from the feedstock. The thermal control arrangement is operable, in an on-orbit space environment characterized by near vacuum pressure and near zero-g force, to maintain temperature of at least one of the A/M tool, the feedstock, and the workpiece within respective specified ranges. The contamination control arrangement is operable, in the on-orbit space environment, to control outgassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A high conductance thermal link (1) includes a thermal conductive strap (2) having pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks (5) and polyimide film (6) at least partially covering each stack (5). Adhesive material is between the pyrolytic graphite layers. The thermal conductive strap (2) has two opposite ends (4) and two end fittings (3, 3′) that house the corresponding ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2). An adhesive material is in the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks (5) of pyrolytic graphite layers. At least one of the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) has a geometry including protrusions (7) separated by intermediate gaps (8).

A high conductance thermal link (1) includes a thermal conductive strap (2) having pyrolytic graphite layers arranged in stacks (5) and polyimide film (6) at least partially covering each stack (5). Adhesive material is between the pyrolytic graphite layers. The thermal conductive strap (2) has two opposite ends (4) and two end fittings (3, 3′) that house the corresponding ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2). An adhesive material is in the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) between the pyrolytic graphite layers and between the stacks (5) of pyrolytic graphite layers. At least one of the ends (4) of the thermal conductive strap (2) has a geometry including protrusions (7) separated by intermediate gaps (8).

An evaporator element is provided and includes a body defining channels, each of which includes grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form a base and an apex with an apex angle opposite the base and defined such that, for a fluid flow moving through one of the channels in a microgravity environment a portion of the fluid flow in a liquid phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the base to the apex and a portion of the fluid flow in a vapor phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the apex to the base.

This device, the (‘Demon’ Quantum Mechanical, (H/C)/(Propulsion) system), replaces entirely, the (antiquated system of using Cryogens for cooling, in satellite applications). This device, is the ONLY application, which uses (Quantum Mechanics) for Propulsion/Thrusting. This device is the ONLY design to use (Quantum Mechanics) to (simultaneously Heat and Cool) in any application. This device is the ONLY design to use (Quantum Mechanics) to (simultaneously Heat and Cool) and for (Propulsion) in any application, —and due to the system (operating methods) and (weightless environment), —with EXPONENTIALLY greater (fuel) efficiency. This device (extends the (working service life) of Satellites requiring cooling) from MONTHS, to 50+ YEARS/more.

This device, the (‘Demon’ Quantum Mechanical, (H/C)/(Propulsion) system), replaces entirely, the (antiquated system of using Cryogens for cooling, in satellite applications). This device, is the ONLY application, which uses (Quantum Mechanics) for Propulsion/Thrusting. This device is the ONLY design to use (Quantum Mechanics) to (simultaneously Heat and Cool) in any application. This device is the ONLY design to use (Quantum Mechanics) to (simultaneously Heat and Cool) and for (Propulsion) in any application, —and due to the system (operating methods) and (weightless environment), —with EXPONENTIALLY greater (fuel) efficiency. This device (extends the (working service life) of Satellites requiring cooling) from MONTHS, to 50+ YEARS/more.

A cooling device (100) is a device that cools a heat generator such as an electronic device (2) mounted in a mounting device such as an artificial satellite. The cooling device (100) includes a refrigerant flow path (10) configured annularly by sequentially connecting a pump (3) that circulates a liquid refrigerant, a cooler (4) that cools a heat generator such as an electronic device (2) with the refrigerant, and a heat exchanger (5) that cools the refrigerant. In addition, the cooling device (100) has a vapor mixing unit (20) that mixes the vapor generated by heat of at least one of heat intrusion from an outside to a mounting device such as an artificial satellite and heat generation of a heat generator such as the electronic device (2) into the refrigerant flowing into a cooler (4) in the refrigerant flow path (10).

A cooling device (100) is a device that cools a heat generator such as an electronic device (2) mounted in a mounting device such as an artificial satellite. The cooling device (100) includes a refrigerant flow path (10) configured annularly by sequentially connecting a pump (3) that circulates a liquid refrigerant, a cooler (4) that cools a heat generator such as an electronic device (2) with the refrigerant, and a heat exchanger (5) that cools the refrigerant. In addition, the cooling device (100) has a vapor mixing unit (20) that mixes the vapor generated by heat of at least one of heat intrusion from an outside to a mounting device such as an artificial satellite and heat generation of a heat generator such as the electronic device (2) into the refrigerant flowing into a cooler (4) in the refrigerant flow path (10).

The disclosed propulsion system of a space vehicle and the methods of operating the propulsion system use a microwave energy source to heat propellant in a propellant chamber that pierces and traverses a waveguide carrying the microwave energy. In some implementations, the microwave energy ionizes and further heats the propellant in the propellant chamber. The partially ionized and heated propellant may exit the propellant chamber via a nozzle to generate thrust.

A first deployment mechanism (30) deploys a first radiator panel (20) from a state where the first radiator panel (20) is opposed to a north or south face (10) of the body structure of a satellite. A second radiator panel (40) is stacked with the first radiator panel (20) to be opposed to the north or south face (10) of the body structure of the satellite and is sandwiched between the north and south face (10) of the body structure of the satellite and the first radiator panel (20), in a state where the first radiator panel (20) is opposed to the north or south face (10) of the body structure of the satellite. A second deployment mechanism (50) connects the second radiator panel (40) to the north or south face (10) of the body structure of the satellite, and deploys the second radiator panel (40) in a direction P2 opposite to a deployment direction P1 of the first radiator panel from a state where the second radiator panel (40) is opposed to the north or south face (10) of the body structure of the satellite.