Validation of the Thermal Model for the HERMES CubeSat Payload and Evaluation of the Performance of Newly Designed Passive Thermal Links

The work presents a three-dimensional modeling approach to investigate the thermal performance of the scientific payload on the HERMES 3U CubeSat. This simulation method minimizes geometric simplifications, leading to precise temperature predictions. The model was refined and calibrated using experimental data in accordance with ECSS-E-ST-31C standards, ensuring high reliability. This validated model was employed to evaluate newly designed CubeSat spacers, which serve as thermal connectors between the payload and external radiators. The study underscores the critical importance of accurate thermal models in the design of space missions. The primary outcome of this work is the provision of empirical data on the performance of the spacers, and the second outcome is a detailed list of thermal contact resistances derived from model correlation. This information can be used by other CubeSat research teams, enabling them to start their thermal simulations with thermal contact resistance values that have been test-verified and provide an estimation of the temperature field's response when incorporating spacer-based thermal links.