Modulating satellite capacity

A system for satellite communications, comprising:

• a payload configured to utilize electrical energy at a first rate over a subinterval of an interval, the subinterval being associated with a level of demand for accessing the payload that exceeds a threshold, wherein thermal energy generated by the payload during the subinterval based at least in part on the electrical energy being utilized at the first rate exceeds a thermal processing capability of the payload;
• a power system configured to generate electrical energy at a second rate over the interval and to supply electrical energy to the payload at the first rate over the subinterval, the first rate being larger than the second rate, wherein the power system comprises an energy storage component configured to supply at least a portion of the electrical energy supplied to the payload at the first rate over the subinterval;
• and
• a thermal management component configured to process a first portion of the thermal energy generated at the payload during the subinterval, wherein the first portion of the thermal energy generated at the payload is in excess of the thermal processing capability of the payload, and wherein a second portion of the thermal energy generated at the payload during the subinterval is processed by the payload in accordance with the thermal processing capability of the payload,
• wherein the thermal management component is further configured to:
• store a first amount of the first portion of the thermal energy generated during the subinterval based at least in part on processing the first portion of the thermal energy generated at the payload during the subinterval, and
• release, during a second subinterval of the interval, the first amount of the first portion of the thermal energy generated during the subinterval that was stored during the subinterval,
• wherein the payload is configured to utilize electrical energy at a third rate over the second subinterval, the third rate being smaller than the second rate.