Thermal management system for controlling the temperature of a reflective surface having a solar concentrator array

A thermal management system (“TMS”) for controlling a temperature of a reflective panel of a spacecraft, the TMS comprising:

• a first solar concentrator array having reflectors arranged in reflector groups, wherein the first solar concentrator array is located within the reflective panel, and wherein the reflector groups include a first reflector group having a plurality of individually controllable reflectors each moveable between a first position to reflect light in a first direction and a second position to reflect the light in a second direction, wherein the light reflected in the first direction causes a first amount of energy to be absorbed by a first solar cell, and wherein the light reflected in the second direction causes a second amount of energy to be absorbed by the first solar cell, the first amount of energy greater than the second amount of energy;
• a first temperature sensor proximate to the reflective panel, the first temperature sensor configured to generate first sensor data indicative of temperature associated with the reflective panel;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the first temperature sensor and the first solar concentrator array, the controller is configured to:
• identify a first set of the plurality of individually controllable reflectors to orient in the first position;
• receive first sensor data from the first temperature sensor;
• determine a first temperature associated with the reflective panel based on the first sensor data;
• in response to determining that the first temperature exceeds a threshold temperature value, determine a subset of the first set of the plurality of individually controllable reflectors to move from the first position to the second position;
• and
• send a first control signal to cause the subset of the first set of the plurality of individually controllable reflectors to move to the second position to cause a change in temperature of the reflective panel, wherein a second subset of the first set of the plurality of individually controllable reflectors remain in the first position.