L2-TCS-CTRL
CRITICAL
THERMAL
Level 2 · hardware
Thermal Control Electronics
Thermal Control Electronics and Software
Sensors, controllers, and autonomous algorithms managing all active thermal control operations
Purpose
Monitor temperatures across the Ark and autonomously control fluid loops, heaters, and radiators
Context
Component of L1-TCS within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸PID control loops maintain thermal setpoints across multiple zones
- ▸Model predictive control anticipates thermal transients from orbital cycling
- ▸Fault-tolerant design ensures thermal control continues with sensor/actuator failures
- ▸Hierarchical control: local zone controllers coordinated by master thermal manager
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS Thermal Control System software and electronics
- ▸Spacecraft thermal control unit (TCU) designs (European, American heritage)
- ▸Industrial HVAC building management systems (adapted for space)
- ▸Mars rover thermal management software (Curiosity, Perseverance)
Lunar considerations
- ▸336-hour day/night cycle creates massive thermal transients to manage
- ▸Must coordinate with power system for heater allocation during night
- ▸Radiation-hardened electronics required for 100-year lunar surface operation
- ▸Autonomous thermal management without ground support
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Monitor temperatures across the Ark and autonomously control fluid loops, heaters, and radiators |
Operational
| thermal range c | -173, 127 |
| lifetime years | 100 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Coordinated thermal management across all Ark thermal zones
Requires
- Computing platform and data bus for thermal control software
- Power for control electronics (~20W)
Decomposes into
L3-TCS-CTRL-PID
PID Temperature Controllers
PID control loops maintaining temperature setpoints across all Ark thermal zones
L3-TCS-CTRL-MPC
Model Predictive Thermal Controller
Model-predictive controller optimizing thermal management over lunar day/night cycle horizon
L3-TCS-CTRL-SENS
Thermal Sensor Network
Network of temperature sensors across all Ark thermal zones providing control feedback
L3-TCS-CTRL-ACT
Thermal Actuator Interface
Driver electronics commanding thermal actuators (heaters, valves, pumps, louvers)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Thermal Control Electronics" (L2-TCS-CTRL). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L2-TCS-CTRL
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.