- Gain knowledge about thermal engineering for spacecraft and space exploration
- Know how to solve thermal models
- Understand and use thermal software common in spacecraft engineering
- Gain hands-on experience with thermal-vacuum tests
- Collect and interpret experimental data
- Correlate experimental data with simulations

This course introduces the topic spacecraft thermal analysis and test. Students will learn about the basics of heat transfer in space and planetary environments and how to set up and solve thermal models of spacecraft. The basics will be practised by creating example models using the software Matlab, before moving on to the commercial software Thermal Desktop. Using this software, the students will create a detailed thermal model of a demonstration object over the course of several weeks. After finishing the model and the simulation of different analysis cases, the demonstrator hardware will be prepared by the students for testing in the laboratory. The subsequent thermal-vacuum test will be monitored and the results analysed by the students. The acquired data will be used to correlate the thermal model build in Thermal Desktop. The course therefore covers all thermal development and qualification steps common for spacecraft and components in space exploration.




The module examination consists of an individual written elaboration and summary of the thermal modeling work conducted in pairs during the semester. In the report (5-10 pages), the emphasis is primarily on the individual contribution, demonstrating that both students have actively participated in the modeling process and can document it in correct technical writing. As described in the Examination Regulations (FSPO, M.Sc. Aerospace) §41 (1) d), the report is supplemented at the end of the semester by a group presentation, which assesses the students' communicative competence.

The grading criteria for the report are based on criteria for scientifically accurate technical texts, which creates a higher level of requirements for students without relevant prior experience.

After approximately the first third of the course, students are offered a voluntary 30-minute mid-term exam, in which the theoretical content of the initial course sessions is assessed through multiple-choice and single-choice questions, drawings, open questions, and calculations. Upon successful completion, this voluntary mid-term exam leads to a 0.3 improvement in the module grade (see Examination Regulations APSO §6 (5)).

Basics of spacecraft technology

The theoretical part will be done in small groups and the thermal-vacuum test will be performed in the lab. Over the course of the semester the students will write a documentation about the modelling and test processes.

Written documentation and presentation at the end of the semester.

Voluntary exam for a possible grade improvement during the semester.