Thermal Analysis and Design Validation of a 2P PocketQube

The miniaturization of space technologies has made PocketQubes an effective platform for accessible space exploration, though their constrained volume introduces significant thermal management challenges. This thesis focuses on the thermal analysis and design validation of 'RedPill', a 2P PocketQube developed by the J2050 student team at the University of Padua and selected by the European Space Agency for the 'Fly Your Satellite!' program. Effective thermal control is critical to ensure that internal components operate strictly within their temperature limits, despite the extreme thermal cycling of Low Earth Orbit. The study presents the development of a numerical model to simulate the orbital thermal environment, analyzing both external heat fluxes and internal power dissipation. By evaluating the satellite's thermal behavior under the most critical mission scenarios, this research validates the overall thermal design, ensuring the reliability of the RedPill mission and providing a robust framework for the thermal management of future picosatellites.