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Spacecraft & Payload Thermal Analysis
Thermal Desktop / SINDA-FLUINT modeling, orbital environments, hot/cold cases, margins, sensitivity studies, and transient analysis.
SPACE MISSIONS • THERMAL EXPERTISE • REAL IMPACT
Spacecraft Thermal
Engineering for
What’s Next.
Senior-level thermal engineering for spacecraft, payloads, and advanced space systems—from architecture and analysis through design review, test, and mission support.
EXPLOREDISCOVERENABLE
23+Spacecraft &
Space Systems Programs
Space Systems Programs
Experience spanning Earth orbit, ISS, lunar, Mars, planetary, human spaceflight and high-power commercial spacecraft.
CONSULTING CAPABILITIES
Senior thermal expertise for the problems that drive spacecraft risk.
Focused support for spacecraft developers, payload teams, avionics groups, and advanced space programs—from early architecture through test, anomaly resolution, and mission support.
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Thermal Control System Architecture
Radiators, heat pipes, heaters, MLI, coatings, conductive paths, active/passive TCS trades, sizing, and optimization.
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Electronics Thermal-Structural Engineering
Avionics, electronics packaging, high-power hardware, interfaces, and coupled thermal/mechanical assessment.
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Design Review & Independent Assessment
PDR/CDR support, model review, requirements, margins, assumptions, failure modes, and independent technical assessment.
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Thermal Test & Correlation
TVAC planning and support, test predictions, instrumentation strategy, data assessment, and thermal model correlation.
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Troubleshooting & Mission Support
Rapid-response thermal assessment, anomaly investigation, root-cause support, flight readiness, and operational thermal engineering.
SELECTED MISSION EXPERIENCE
Flight heritage across planetary, lunar, ISS and Earth science missions.
Selected public programs illustrate the breadth of thermal engineering experience—from spacecraft analysis and electronics packaging to heat-pipe systems and mission operations.
Curiosity Rover
Thermal systems support extending into planetary mission operations.
Dawn Mission
Lead thermal systems engineering support through mission operations.
Perseverance / SHERLOC
Thermal-structural analysis and design oversight for flight electronics.
Europa Clipper
Mechanical, stress and thermal analysis supporting high-power avionics heat-pipe assemblies.
EMIT
Thermal leadership for a variable-conductance heat-pipe rejection system integrated with radiators.
SWOT
Thermal and mechanical analysis supporting high-power avionics hardware.
ADDITIONAL ADVANCED PROGRAM EXPERIENCE
High-Power Constellation S/CSpacecraft thermal + electronics thermal-structural
Cold-Environment Technology DemonstratorAdvanced spacecraft thermal development
Commercial Space Station DemoSpacecraft thermal + electronics thermal-structural
Commercial Space Station — Phase 1Spacecraft thermal + electronics thermal-structural
Commercial Space Station — Phase 2Spacecraft thermal + electronics thermal-structural
15 kW-Class SatelliteHigh-power spacecraft thermal architecture
PRINCIPAL THERMAL ENGINEER
Juan Cepeda-Rizo, Ph.D.
I am an aerospace thermal systems engineer with experience spanning spacecraft, planetary missions, space stations, high-power satellites, cryogenic instruments, avionics, propulsion, and advanced electronics.
My work spans thermal architecture from concept through analysis, design, test, flight readiness, launch, and mission operations. Through Spacecraft Thermal, I help clients solve complex thermal challenges with practical, independent, mission-focused expertise.
ABOUT ME →
PUBLISHED AUTHOR
Thermal and Structural Electronic Packaging Analysis for Space and Extreme Environments
Second Edition
A comprehensive reference on thermal and structural analysis for electronics in space and extreme environments.
PROVEN EXPERIENCE. REAL RESULTS.
23+Programs Supported
Spacecraft and space-systems experience across flight and advanced development programs.
100sFlight Simulations
Hundreds of thermal analyses and mission simulations.
2Planetary Tests
Led a test on two other planets.
5+Patents
Technical patents in thermal control and related technologies.
WHEN TO BRING IN SPACECRAFT THERMAL
Senior thermal expertise without adding a full-time position.
Spacecraft Thermal is best used when a program needs an experienced, independent set of eyes on a technically important thermal problem.
PDR or CDR is approaching
You want an independent review of the thermal architecture, assumptions, requirements, margins, and model conclusions before a major program milestone.
Internal capacity is constrained
Your team needs senior thermal support for a critical analysis, trade study, or design decision without waiting for a full-time hire.
A high-power component is driving margin
Avionics, payload electronics, batteries, propulsion hardware, or another subsystem is creating a difficult temperature or heat-rejection problem.
Model and test results do not agree
You need help interpreting TVAC data, challenging assumptions, identifying dominant thermal paths, and improving model correlation.
A TCS architecture needs a focused trade
Radiators, heat pipes, MLI, heaters, cold plates, interfaces, or active/passive concepts need independent comparison and engineering judgment.
A schedule-critical anomaly needs rapid support
A thermal issue is affecting readiness, test, operations, or delivery and the program needs a fast, technically defensible path forward.
Have a difficult spacecraft thermal problem?
Bring in senior expertise for a focused consultation, independent review, or deeper engineering engagement.
DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT →
SELECTED ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE
From thermal architecture to flight hardware and operations.
ISS PAYLOAD THERMAL CONTROL
Variable-Conductance Heat Pipe Systems
Thermal leadership for an ISS payload heat-rejection system using ammonia VCHPs integrated into radiators.
PLANETARY SPACECRAFT
From Analysis to Mission Operations
Thermal engineering experience extending from development and analysis into actual planetary mission operations.
HIGH-POWER SPACECRAFT ELECTRONICS
Thermal + Structural Analysis
Integrated thermal, mechanical and stress analysis supporting high-power avionics heat-pipe assemblies.
SELECTED RECOGNITION
Engineering recognized across NASA missions and systems work.
A selection of awards recognizing systems engineering, mission support, anomaly resolution and thermal-control delivery.
NASASystems Engineering Excellence Award
MARS CURIOSITYIndividual Achievement Award
DAWNFlight Anomaly Resolution Award
EMITAchievement Award — Delivery of TCS
START A CONVERSATION
Need an experienced thermal engineer on a mission-critical problem?
Spacecraft Thermal supports spacecraft developers, payload teams, aerospace organizations, and advanced technology programs with senior-level thermal expertise.
Confidential technical discussions are welcome.
Initial inquiries only need to describe the engineering challenge at a high level. Please do not submit export-controlled, classified, or proprietary technical data through this form.
SpacecraftThermal.com