Thermal Actuator Panel
A hardware-in-the-loop panel that simulates space thermal hazards for NASA's RETH Institute.
Summary
Simulating space hazards in real time. I developed a thermal actuator panel for NASA's Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitats (RETH) Institute to model how habitats respond to thermal shocks — meteorite impacts, moonquakes, and other events. The system runs hardware-in-the-loop, controlling heat transfer to mimic extreme conditions.
The Build
The panel itself is CNC-machined aluminum with internal cooling channels for controlled heat dissipation, sealed with laser-cut Aramid-fiber gaskets to keep the water-based system leak-free. An immersion heater drives the thermal load, regulated by a custom-built PID controller for precise temperature response.
Before integration, I validated heat transfer with CFD to match real-world thermal behavior, then mounted the panel to a habitat wall and plumbed it into the loop.
Results
- A real-time, hardware-in-the-loop platform for space-hazard simulation.
- Custom PID delivered accurate, precise temperature control.
- Scalable design, adaptable across mission environments.
Specifications
Gallery
