Protected: Space Technology R&D: Simulation Success Stories

Space technology R&D spans applications from rocket propulsion and life-support systems to spacecraft communication and power generation, each with distinct engineering challenges and demanding performance requirements.

This ebook features case studies from NASA, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), alongside two technical articles on spacecraft antenna design and satellite thermal management.

Why It Matters

Physical testing can be costly, time-consuming, and difficult to reproduce under real operating conditions. Multiphysics simulation enables engineers to analyze interacting physical phenomena, compare design alternatives, and identify potential issues early, helping reduce development costs and accelerate the path from concept to application.

What You’ll Learn

Explore four case studies and two technical articles demonstrating how simulation supports space technology R&D, from advanced manufacturing and propulsion to communication systems and thermal management.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside:

• Additive manufacturing for rocket engines: How ITRI developed a simulation app that reduced testing time by 75% and costs by 83.3% for a 3D-printed rocket injector.
• Carbon dioxide removal on the ISS: How NASA combined thermal modeling and experimental testing to improve compressor design for the station’s life-support system.
• Rocket combustion instability: How multiphysics modeling provides deeper insight into gas dynamics and acoustic behavior in rocket propulsion systems.
• Efficient power generation in extreme environments: How the Italian Institute of Technology investigated electron emission for deep-space satellite power generation and nanoantenna applications.
• Spacecraft antenna design: Simulation approaches for analyzing antenna performance and electromagnetic behavior while balancing accuracy and computational cost.
• Small satellite thermal management: How thermal modeling helps predict temperature variations and assess their effects on satellite performance and longevity.

Get the Full Story

Fill out the form below to download the ebook and discover how simulation is applied to space technology R&D.

Featured products

All products mentioned are developed by COMSOL.

• COMSOL Multiphysics

Learn more

• Blog: 4 Must-Read COMSOL Blogs for World Space Week
  Explore COMSOL applications related to space, including rocket propulsion and planetary science.
  https://sciengineer.com/4-must-read-comsol-blogs-for-world-space-week/