Thermal radiator shutter and system and method for thermal control using a thermal radiator shutter

A method of providing thermal control via a thermal radiator shutter, the method comprising:

• providing a thermal radiator shutter in a closed configuration, the thermal radiator shutter including a first baseplate having a first thermally controlled component on a first side and a first radiator on a second opposing side, and a second baseplate having a second thermally controlled component on a first side and a second radiator on a second opposing side, the second baseplate in a stowed position, the first and the second radiators being equal in size;
• determining to switch the thermal radiator shutter from the closed configuration to an open configuration;
• in response to the determination to switch the thermal radiator shutter from the closed configuration to the open configuration, putting the thermal radiator shutter in the open configuration by moving the second baseplate from the stowed position to a deployed position to provide planar separation of the first baseplate and the second baseplate such that each of the first radiator and the second radiators have a suitable view factor for emitting or rejecting heat;
• determining to switch the thermal radiator shutter from the open configuration to the closed configuration;
• and
• in response to the determination to switch the thermal radiator shutter from the open configuration to the closed configuration, moving the second baseplate from the deployed position to the stowed position where the first and the second radiators face each other and form a closed thermal loop.

A method of manufacturing a thermal radiator shutter for providing active thermal control, the method comprising:

• mounting a first temperature-controlled component to a first side of a first baseplate, the mounting including thermally coupling the first temperature-controlled component to the first baseplate;
• disposing a first radiator on a second side of the first baseplate, the second side opposing the first side, the first radiator for rejecting heat generated by the first temperature-controlled component;
• mounting a second temperature-controlled component to a first side of a second baseplate, the mounting including thermally coupling the second temperature-controlled component to the second baseplate;
• disposing a second radiator on a second side of the second baseplate, the second side opposing the first side, the second radiator for rejecting heat generated by the second thermally-controlled component, the first and the second radiators each having a radiative surface with the same dimensions;
• and
• connecting the second baseplate to the first baseplate such that the second baseplate is moveable relative to the first baseplate, the second baseplate being moveable between a first position, in which the second radiator is in planar alignment with the first radiator to provide radiative coupling between the first radiator and the second radiator and eliminate the view factors of the first and the second radiators, and a second position, in which the second radiator is separated from the first radiator such that the first and the second radiators reject heat generated by the first and the second temperature-controlled components, respectively.