Analytical and numerical approaches of a solar array thermal analysis in a low-earth orbit satellite

A detailed solar array thermal model included in the system-level satellite thermal model was developed and solved numerically. From the detailed thermal analysis, in-orbit thermal characteristics of the solar array were determined and the thermal safety of the current solar array was verified with satisfying the allowable temperature limits. And the usefulness of the analytical approach to predict the worst hot temperature of the current solar array was also confirmed in comparison with the numerical analysis result of the detailed thermal model.