Apparatus and method for mounting heat pipes to panels

An apparatus comprising:

• a structural panel suitable for use in a satellite;
• an elongate heat pipe mounted to the structural panel, the heat pipe and the structural panel having different coefficients of thermal expansion resulting in different thermal expansions of the heat pipe and the structural panel, wherein the heat pipe comprises a pipe with an integral flange, the heat pipe being mounted to a material of the structural panel with a thermally conductive adhesive which is intermediate distal ends of the heat pipe, wherein the adhesive is omitted proximate at least one distal end of the heat pipe, and wherein a portion of the heat pipe adhered to the material of the structural panel by the thermally conductive adhesive intermediate the distal ends of the heat pipe lies in a first plane and the at least one distal end lies in either the first plane or a second plane that is parallel to the first plane;
• and
• at least one bolt and at least one cooperating threaded receiving element, wherein the at least one distal end of the heat pipe without adhesive is in contact with the material of the structural panel and mechanically secured to the material of structural panel by the at least one bolt passing through the integral flange and received in the at least one cooperating threaded receiving element, wherein the at least one bolt is thereby arranged to absorb a greater portion of shear stress than the adhesive caused by said different thermal expansions.