Read the equations, assumptions and source references behind Kaveri Orbital orbit, eclipse, solar, battery and radiator estimates.
The explorer uses circular two-body orbits, a cylindrical Earth shadow, continuous electrical loads and average steady-state radiation. It is an educational model, not a certified spacecraft design. Kaveri Orbital is a father-and-son passion project by Arun Govindappa and Naren Arun. Naren is completing his degree in astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State).
Penn State: Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Calculated with Kaveri Orbital model 0.1.0, not a NASA design: 100 kW IT plus 20 kW support load; beta 0°. The circular orbit takes 95.5 minutes at 7.59 km/s, with 60.0 minutes of sunlight and 35.6 minutes of eclipse. Estimated solar array footprint is 899 m², nominal battery capacity 140.3 kWh and radiator emitting area 311 m². These are illustrative model outputs, not hardware specifications.
Solar flux 1,361 W/m²; cell efficiency 30%; cell packing 90%; pointing factor 95%; array end-of-life output 80%; bus conversion efficiency 95%. Battery charging and discharging efficiencies each 95%; usable depth 80%; retained capacity 80%. Sizing margin 20%; radiator surface 50°C; IR emissivity 90%; absorbed environmental heat 50 W/m². Advanced assumptions in the Explorer can be changed. The example remains fixed so it can be reproduced.
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