Design and packaging for a microelectromechanical thermal switch radiator

Smaller satellites will require low-power, lightweight thermal control. This paper describes a technology based on a thermal switch which controls the conductivity between the radiator and a highly-emissive surface. The device is going to be tested aboard MIDSTAR 1, a small satellite that is being designed and built by students at the United States Naval Academy. This paper presents a discussion of the device design, and a detailed thermal analysis that shows how the power dissipation for the device relates to design parameters. The package and testing procedure are also described.