Abstract: The parameter sensitivity analysis provides an evaluating method for the reliability validation of the satellite thermal design and the operating reliability of the satellite. In this paper the problem of satellite thermal design is analyzed and the sensitivity equations of the satellite thermal design are established by means of the theory of system sensitivity. As an example, the sensitivity equations have been applied to the parameter sensitivity analysis for the thermal design of the solar array of a satellite and the sensitivity of each design parameter has been also discussed. Such a procedure is necessary for the determination of physical and structural parameters in the satellite thermal design.

Key words: satellite thermal design, parameter sensitivity analysis, variational analysis