Introduction
Before continuing to begin construction of our final prototype, we need to look at the overall viability of the design. Understanding the various different aspects and analyzing their viability is a key step toward moving forward in our project timeline.
Our initial sketch included the use of radiators and MLI blankets to combat heat damage within the CubeSat. We initially planned to coat the radiators in a special space-grade (meant for space application) coating called AZ-93. This coating was meant to protect the radiators from solar heat damage and aid in the dispelling of heat. However, upon closer evaluation and research we determined that this was not viable due to budget constraints, so we switched the coating to Silver Teflon, which serves a similar function.
Once we finalized the materials we would use in our solution, we wanted to test the solution in a software that would simulate the conditions the solution we are working on would be operating under. Using our digital model and the AutoCAD software, we were able to determine the dissipation of heat throughout the CubeSat before and after our solution was applied. The resulting data proved to be in our favor, and showed us that our solution would successfully keep the internal temperature of the CubeSat well within its operating range of 85-120 degrees celsius.
Conclusion
By critically looking at our project, we were able to determine areas of our design that were simply not viable to continue on with. After acknowledging these instances, we were successfully able to implement the necessary workarounds and move on to test these designs. After testing, we are able to continue on with our project having confirmed that it is, in fact, viable to proceed with.
