Smart heaters based on flexible electronics for future spacecrafts

Abstract

Abstract Thermal control applications deployed in space environments require innovative, lightweight, and flexible systems. This smart heater is designed to adapt the implementation of electronics, heaters, and sensors by using Kapton material as a replacement for the typical rigid substrate (FR4) used in past planetary and scientific missions. To realise the benefits of these new flexible technologies using state-of-the-art materials (Kapton, Copper, and Inconel) for space thermal electronic applications, the smart heater has been designed for vacuum operation from -55 °C to 100 °C and non-operational from -150 °C to 150 °C. In addition, the systems must be able to reach the set point temperature consecutively with an error margin of ±1 °C and read the temperature value with an accuracy of 0.5 °C for the operating temperature range.