Spacecraft thermal radiators are designed with specific optical properties rather than a simple black finish
Spacecraft thermal radiators and surfaces are engineered with specific optical properties—such as controlled solar absorptance and high infrared thermal emittance—rather than a simple black finish, to effectively manage heat rejection in space.
The retrieved papers consistently focus on the thermo-optical properties of spacecraft coatings, specifically tailoring parameters like solar absorptance (alpha) and thermal emittance (epsilon) rather than relying on a simple blackbody finish. Papers [4], [5], [6], and [9] explicitly discuss the measurement and engineering of these specific optical properties for spacecraft thermal control.
Li L, Fu X, Xu X, Wei D, Guan Y. Preparation and characterization of diphenyl silicone rubber/microfiber glass wool composite thermal control films.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra02118a
The paper discusses the design of thermal control films for spacecraft with low solar absorptance to thermal emittance (alpha/epsilon) ratios.
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F. Lura, B. Biering, D. Hagelschuer. A Thermal Method for the Determination of Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Spacecraft Coatings. 1993. https://doi.org/10.4271/932122
This study focuses on measuring the specific thermo-optical properties such as solar absorptance and thermal emittance of spacecraft coatings.
Gong H, Wang Z, Zheng Y, Tong L, Li H, Zhao Z, Liu J, Liu G, Zhou X, Fan T. Dual-Functional Photonic Metacoating Integrating Fluorescence Thermometry and High-Performance Space Radiative Cooling.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02195-8
Research on photonic metacoating for spacecraft radiative cooling demonstrates achieving ultralow solar absorptance and high thermal emittance.
B. Biering, D. Hagelschuer. Improvements of a Thermal Method for the Determination of Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Spacecraft Coatings. 1996. https://doi.org/10.4271/961429
This work addresses the measurement of thermo-optical properties like solar absorptance and thermal emittance for spacecraft coatings in space simulation facilities.
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