Space Thermal Management
In the rapidly evolving world of aerospace and defense, Space Thermal Management has emerged as a critical challenge, especially as satellites grow smaller and more powerful. At the forefront of solving this issue is Carbice, an Atlanta-based innovator delivering high-performance cooling solutions using aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) technology. Electronics Media spoke with Rafael Spears, General Manager of Global Aerospace and Defence at Carbice, to learn how their patented Space Pad is redefining reliability in orbit, supporting next-gen satellite platforms like HummingSat, and extending its impact across industries from data centers to advanced electronics.
Could you please provide a brief overview of Carbice for our readers?
Rafael Spears: Carbice is an Atlanta-based company revolutionizing thermal management for next-generation technology. We partner with industries ranging from space to data centers to deliver scalable, high-performance cooling expertise and solutions that prevent overheating and protect mission-critical systems. Our patented aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) technology is the world’s first robust thermal interface material (TIM) designed for scale, offering unmatched reliability, scalability, and sustainability across demanding environments.
Can you explain the core technology behind the Carbice Space Pad and how it addresses thermal management challenges in space?
Rafael Spears: The Carbice Space Pad uses a dense array of aligned carbon nanotubes bonded to both sides of a recycled aluminum substrate. Think of it like billions of tiny thermal highways that move heat efficiently from the hot side to the cold side, even through the vacuum and extreme temperature swings of space. Traditional TIMs can degrade or lose contact over time, especially under vibration and thermal cycling. But the Space Pad remains reliable and actually improves thermal contact over time, making it uniquely suited to the harsh conditions of orbit.
What distinguishes Carbice’s thermal interface materials from traditional TIM solutions in the market?
Rafael Spears: Most traditional TIMs, like thermal grease, paste, or phase change materials, are messy, hard to rework, and prone to drying out or cracking over time. Carbice’s TIMs are solid, peel-and-stick pads that combine the flexibility of a liquid with the durability of a solid. They’re easy to assemble, require no curing or cleanup, and can conform to surface gaps and voids for consistently high thermal performance. They’re also made from recyclable materials, reducing waste and long-term cost.
What specific thermal challenges do small GEO satellites like HummingSat face, and how does Carbice’s solution mitigate them?
Rafael Spears: Small GEO satellites like HummingSat are under intense pressure to pack more computing power into smaller form factors. That density generates significant heat, and traditional thermal materials often fail to provide consistent, reliable cooling in such compact, high-vibration environments. The Carbice Space Pad addresses this by delivering a durable, easy-to-install solution that maintains strong thermal contact across launch, deployment, and years in orbit.
Carbice provides thermal management solutions across various industries. Could you share which industries you serve beyond space, and how the thermal management requirements in those sectors differ from those in space applications?
Rafael Spears: Beyond space, Carbice works with data centers, automotive manufacturers, critical power suppliers, and advanced electronics companies. While each industry has unique needs, they all face rising thermal demands from AI workloads, HPC, and miniaturization. In space, the challenge is reliability in extreme, zero-maintenance environments. In data centers, it’s about improving the serviceability and performance of systems. Our materials are engineered to perform in both conditions, delivering scalable solutions that reduce downtime, cut waste, and extend hardware lifespan.
Are there plans to extend Carbice’s thermal solutions to other satellite platforms or missions beyond HummingSat?
Rafael Spears: Absolutely. Carbice is already supporting thermal protection on 28 satellites in orbit, and we’re actively collaborating with aerospace partners to expand into additional missions and platforms.
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