Validation of the Structural-Thermal-Model of the Small Earth Observation Satellite Flying Laptop

Thorough thermal design and testing is compulsory for every satellite mission. A well-known thermal behavior of the entire satellite system is therefore indispensable and needs to be verified during the spacecraft development. A Structural-Thermal-Model (STM) was constructed for the Flying Laptop, a satellite currently being developed at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart, which enables the validation of mechanical and thermal simulations for the satellite’s Flight-Model. The STM was vibration and thermal-vacuum tested at the Centre Spatial Liège (CSL). This paper will de-scribe the design and construction of the STM as well as the facilities and test equipment used for the tests. Conclusions will be drawn from the actual test results.