Thermal Data Interoperability for Small Satellite Missions: Integrating CAD, ETMS, and STEP-TAS

The rapid development cycles of small satellite missions require the transition from isolated engineering practices to a continuous, concurrent or model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach. A significant bottleneck remains in thermal engineering, where the manual translation of mechanical designs into thermal models- and the exchange of thermal models between different software environments – often leads to data loss, increased development time, and integration errors. This paper presents an implemented methodology for streamlining the thermal analysis and design workflow for inter-organizational collaboration through an integrated data exchange framework.
This study explores three primary data exchange capabilities for modern smallsat development implemented in Radian’s thermal analysis software:
– Import of CAD models directly from STEP files to automate the geometry creation and the transition from mechanical to thermal models.
– Import of ESATAN Thermal Model (ETMS) files to enable the seamless integration of legacy softwares and other platforms.
– Export of thermal models into the STEP-TAS format, the ESA-supported standard for neutral thermal data exchange, to ensure compliance with international agency requirements and facilitate collaboration across European space consortia.
Expected outcomes include a quantitative reduction in modeling lead times and enhanced fidelity in thermal model reduction processes. Maintaining model consistency between software tools makes it easier for components and small satellite developers to integrate into multi-partner constellation programs. This paper provides lessons learned from its application in current smallsat thermal analysis cases, signaling a shift toward more robust and interoperable commercial engineering practices.