PASSIVE THERMAL SYSTEM COMPRISING COMBINED HEAT PIPE AND PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL AND SATELLITES INCORPORATING SAME

A passive thermal system for use in a satellite and other aerospace applications includes a container having a heat-pipe working fluid disposed in a first chamber and a Phase Change Material (PCM) disposed in a second chamber that substantially surrounds the first chamber The first chamber contains a wick for transporting the heat-pipe working fluid. The exterior the first chamber has fins, etc., that extend into the PCM for heat spreading and increased interface area.