A support structure for a spacecraft is disclosed having a first side wall, a second side wall which is parallel to and opposite the first side wall, a third side wall attached to at least the first side wall, and a fourth side wall which is parallel to and opposite the third side wall; at least one interior panel attached between and perpendicular to the first side wall and to the second side wall, at least one first thermal coupling device bearing against the second side wall and attached to the interior panel, electronic devices arranged on and in direct thermal contact with at least a portion of the first thermal coupling device.

A high efficiency satellite transmitter comprises an RF amplifier chip in thermal contact with a radiant cooling element via a heat conducting element. The RF amplifier chip comprises an active layer disposed on a high thermal conductivity substrate having a thermal conductivity greater than about 1000 W/mK, maximizing heat conduction out of the RF amplifier chip and ultimately into outer space when the chip is operating within a satellite under normal transmission conditions. In one embodiment, the active layer comprises materials selected from the group consisting of GaN, InGaN, AlGaN, and InGaAlN alloys. In one embodiment, the high thermal conductivity substrate comprises synthetic diamond.

Methods and apparatus to methods and apparatus for performing propulsion operations using electric propulsion system are disclosed. An example launch vehicle includes a first space vehicle including a first core structure and a first electric propulsion system, and a second space vehicle including a second core structure and a second electric propulsion system, the second core structure releasably attached to the first space vehicle in a stacked configuration.

An example of a satellite includes a first radiator panel, a second radiator panel, a space defined between the first radiator panel and the second radiator panel, and one or more first heat-generating components located in the space. Each of the first heat-generating components is attached to at least one of the first or second radiator panels. The satellite further includes a third radiator panel extending from the space and one or more second heat-generating components located in the space, each of the second heat-generating components is attached to the third radiator panel.

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 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.

A radiator for a geostationary satellite is disclosed having a radiative panel perpendicular to a radiation axis, and pivoting relative to the radiation axis, a mounting foot for the panel, a motor which rotates the mounting foot about a rotation axis, the radiation axis and the rotation axis being tilted relative to each other by an angle corresponding to the angle of the satellite's orbital plane relative to the ecliptic plane of the planet, and a guidance system for the panel, limiting rotation of the panel about the rotation axis, including a connecting arm pivoting relative to the satellite about a first axis and relative to the panel about a second axis concurrent with the first axis at a point of intersection of all the axes.

Various aspects as described herein are directed to a radiative cooling device and method for cooling an object. As consistent with one or more embodiments, a radiative cooling device includes a solar spectrum reflecting structure configured and arranged to suppress light modes, and a thermally-emissive structure configured and arranged to facilitate thermally-generated electromagnetic emissions from the object and in mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths.

A kinked thin tube that deploys, possibly using pressurized fluid, and can transport heat to other structures. Radiator panels attached to the tubes can deploy into a flat plane from a stowed configuration, allowing for efficient storage and reduced mass. Additionally, hollow brackets can be used to connect to the thin tubes structurally and thermally.

Disclosed is artificial satellite including: a mounting structure supporting equipment-bearing walls; a launcher-adapter rigidly connected to the mounting structure; a first radiator; and at least one first system for transporting heat by a fluid, including at least one duct having a first heat-exchange section and a second heat-exchange section, the second heat-exchange section being capable of being in thermal contact with the first radiator. The first heat-exchange section is in thermal contact with at least one portion of the launcher-adapter. Also disclosed is a method for filling a tank of propellant gas of the artificial satellite.