BATTERY THERMAL DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE IN EUROPEAN GEO-SATELLITE PROGRAMS

This paper outlines and compares the thermal control design and thermal accommodation of the batteries of various European communications satellites, viz the ESA spacecraft OTS, ECS, MCS, and Olympus, the German, French and British national programs: DFS-Kopernikus, TV-SAT, TDF1 and Skynet IV, and the Inmarsat II maritime comms satellite.

The performance of these battery thermal control systems is discussed versus their specific design features using flight results or analytical predictions as available.

A conclusion is drawn with respect to achievements versus investments and an outlook is attempted on development trends.