A thermostat for mini-spacecraft

A BBC news item highlights a means of thermal control for use on small satellites.

BBC News says:

Researchers in the US are showcasing a new approach to temperature control for spacecraft.

The technique is a welcome advance for miniature spacecraft, for which temperature regulation technologies employed in larger craft cannot be adapted.

The scheme uses razor-thin films that can adjust the amount of heat radiated by spacecraft.

The films are robust, inexpensive, and consume very little power.

Read the full BBC news item at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7570372.stm