Optimal Power Generation and Thermal Analysis for ÆtherSat

Solar energy is becoming the conventional and preferred source of power in satellites. The power generated by the solar arrays present on satellites depends on the orientation and orbital parameters associated with it. The aforementioned factors also help determine the thermal state of the satellite. First, this paper discusses the orbital parameters associated with the mission orbit of ÆtherSat. ÆtherSat is a theoretical 1U student CubeSat with a novel solar-tracking mechanism in its power system and its mission orbit is at 500 km altitude with zero eccentricity. Following this, a transient thermal analysis for the same is carried out. The equations involved in the thermal analysis are solved using Euler's numerical method on the MATLAB software and a range of temperatures experienced by ÆtherSat is obtained. The transient analysis concludes that the satellite components are operational in the obtained temperature limit, and hence thermal control system is not required since it is ensured that the ÆtherSat thermal constraints are maintained in fluctuating conditions.