Active spacecraft thermal control system and method

摘要

A spacecraft (10) has combined propulsion and active thermal control systems. A propellant storage tank (20) couples to a pressurant storage tank (18). A working fluid (52) resides in the pressurant storage tank (18) and propels propellant when needed while concurrently acting as a thermal working fluid. The working fluid (52) is expanded then routed to selected cooled components (64). After passing by the cooled components (64), the working fluid (52) is compressed and passed by selected heated components (82). A controller (36) monitors temperature sensors (88) and controls valve assemblies (60, 78) to determine the components (64, 82) to which the working fluid (52) is routed.