Solar Cell Temperature Control — Cylindrical Sun-Oriented Satellite in Earth-Moon Space

A general preliminary design solution to the problem of controlling the mean temperature of solar cells mounted on the end plate of a cylindrical sun-oriented satellite is provided. The results apply to a nonspinning cylinder far removed from the earth or moon or to a spinning cylinder in space in the vicinity of the earth or moon. Within the limits of the listed assumptions, the method of solution is not restricted by position in space. With derived equations and resulting graphs, combinations of solar-panel and cylinder-wall thickness that give, as a function of cylinder diameter, a desired solar- panel mean temperature can be determined.