Reducing temperature swing of space objects with temperature-adaptive solar or radiative coating

Lacking the atmosphere for temperature neutralization, objects in outer space without thermal control undergo large temperature swings. Effective temperature management technologies (TMTs) are essential to avoid undesirable effects caused by extreme thermal conditions. However, existing high-performance TMTs impose additional burden on the limited mass and power budgets of spacecrafts. Very recently, temperature-adaptive solar coatings (TASCs) and temperature-adaptive radiative coatings (TARCs) emerged as novel light-weight, energy-free temperature-regulation approaches for terrestrial objects with excellent thermal performance. Here, we simulate and present the great potential of TASCs and TARCs as future passive TMTs for space objects. A case study of a geosynchronous satellite with body-mounted solar panels covered by TARC exhibits an interior temperature swing as small as 20.3 degrees C-25.45 degrees C in an orbital period even with solar eclipses. These findings provide insight into the superior performance of TASCs and TARCs in space and will promote their application in extraterrestrial missions.

Automated summary

In outer space, objects without thermal control experience large temperature swings due to the lack of an atmosphere for temperature neutralization. However, the existing high-performance temperature management technologies impose additional burden on spacecrafts. Recently, temperature-adaptive solar coatings and temperature-adaptive radiative coatings have emerged as promising lightweight, energy-free temperature-regulation approaches for terrestrial objects. Through simulation, it is shown that these coatings have great potential as passive temperature management technologies for space objects.