Small satellites are becoming more popular in the space sector, primarily due to their lower cost and shorter development time. Much of the information available about satellite thermal analysis and control refers to larger spacecraft. Sorting through this information to find the practices specifically applicable for small satellites can be a daunting task, particularly for inexperienced engineers. This thesis study is intended to inform the reader about basic thermal control and analysis methods that relate specifically to small satellites in low Earth orbit. A case study involving a satellite designed by the Missouri University of Science and Technology Satellite Research Team is presented to demonstrate the use of computer software for thermal analysis and the thermal control methods used to ensure that the satellite electrical component temperatures remain in the necessary range for proper operation.

The process presented in the case study involves the construction of multiple revisions of the potential satellite thermal model. The analysis results presented demonstrate how increasing model complexity and nodal resolution affect resulting satellite temperatures. The passive thermal control method of manipulating satellite surface optical properties is used to raise the satellite component temperatures to the necessary range.